Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there will be “no ceasefire in Lebanon” as Israel continues what it described as strikes on Hezbollah targets. The remarks came shortly after Donald Trump said he had asked Netanyahu to be more “low-key,” according to US media reports.
The comments add to the pressure surrounding the wider regional crisis, which has intensified after the latest US-Iran ceasefire agreement. Israel’s bombing of Lebanon in the wake of that deal has already drawn condemnation, with concern growing over the risk of further escalation.
Cooper calls for Lebanon to be included
UK foreign minister Yvette Cooper said Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire arrangement. In remarks also reported by Reuters, she added that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must be toll-free.
The issue of passage through the Strait of Hormuz has become part of the broader diplomatic discussion. Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on vessels seeking safe passage through the waterway, a key global shipping route. On Wednesday, Trump suggested the US and Iran could collect tolls in a joint venture.
The White House, however, said its priority was reopening the strait without limitations.
Focus on Hezbollah targets
Israel said it was attacking Hezbollah launch sites and other Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The strikes come at a sensitive moment, as ceasefire talks continue in parallel with military action on the ground.
The exchanges have highlighted how fragile the current diplomatic track remains. Any agreement involving the region is now being weighed against attacks in Lebanon, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and the continuing US-Iran ceasefire framework.
As the situation develops, the main political dispute appears to be whether Lebanon can be brought into any ceasefire deal and whether maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz can be guaranteed free passage. For now, the Israeli government is signalling that military action against Hezbollah will continue, despite calls from allies and diplomats for restraint.
The crisis remains fluid, with statements from Washington, London, Tehran and Jerusalem shaping the next phase of talks. But Netanyahu’s latest comments indicate that, at least for now, Israel does not see a ceasefire in Lebanon as imminent.
