The United States is set to host talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington next week, a US State Department official said. The meeting comes as global concerns grow over a major Israeli attack on Lebanon.
The latest attacks are among the deadliest since Hezbollah became involved in the Middle East conflict in early March, with more than 300 killed and more than 1,000 wounded. The situation also threatens a ceasefire between the US and Iran that has been in effect for less than 48 hours.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered efforts to begin direct talks with Lebanon, focusing on Hezbollah's disarmament and building more stable relations.
However, Lebanon has insisted on the need for a ceasefire before any talks can begin.
On the ground, fighting continues as Hezbollah launches rocket attacks on Israel in response, while the Israeli military intensifies ground operations and air strikes in southern Lebanon and the suburbs of Beirut.
International pressure has also increased as several major powers have called for the US-Iran ceasefire to be extended to Lebanon.
Friedrich Merz warned that a larger conflict could derail the peace process, while Keir Starmer rejected Israel's position that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire.
On the Iranian side, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf insisted that Lebanon was part of the scope of the ceasefire, while President Masoud Pezeshkian described the Israeli attack as undermining planned diplomatic efforts with the US.
Although negotiations are about to take place, Israel and the US still maintain that the conflict in Lebanon is not included in the current ceasefire agreement.
At the same time, military operations continue with reports stating that there are still victims trapped under the rubble of the latest attack.
