Benjamin Netanyahu has said there is “no ceasefire in Lebanon” and that Israel will continue “to strike Hezbollah with full force” after the country’s military launched fresh attacks.
The Israeli prime minister’s comments came as the Israel Defense Forces carried out new strikes on what it described as “Hezbollah launch sites”. The latest bombardment followed a remark from Donald Trump, who said he had asked Netanyahu to be more “low-key” in Lebanon.
Despite the continuing attacks, Netanyahu said he had instructed his government to “open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible”. He said any talks should focus on Hezbollah’s disarmament and the establishment of “peace relations” with Lebanon.
The Lebanese government responded that a ceasefire would have to be agreed before any negotiations could begin.
The renewed strikes came after more than 300 people were killed by Israeli bombing in the 24 hours after the announcement of a ceasefire in the Iran war on Tuesday night. According to the source account, the bombardment was ostensibly aimed at Hezbollah targets.
Some of the strikes involved heavy munitions and hit densely populated areas, prompting outrage from the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international humanitarian organisations.
Escalation continues
The latest exchange highlights the continuing volatility of the conflict in Lebanon, even as Israeli officials frame the campaign as focused on Hezbollah infrastructure and military capability. Netanyahu’s insistence that there is no ceasefire suggests that Israel sees no change in its operational posture on the ground.
At the same time, his call for direct negotiations with Lebanon indicates that the Israeli government is also seeking a political track, though one that would hinge on Hezbollah’s disarmament. The Lebanese position, however, makes clear that Beirut is not prepared to enter talks while the fighting continues.
International concern has also intensified over the scale and location of the strikes. The use of heavy munitions in crowded areas has drawn condemnation from humanitarian groups, which have raised alarm over civilian casualties and the impact on populated neighbourhoods.
The developments add to a broader regional crisis marked by overlapping conflicts and fragile diplomatic efforts. For now, both sides appear to be holding firm to sharply different conditions for any possible de-escalation.
