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Israel refuses to engage in ceasefire discussions with Iran-backed Hezbollah, as Ambassador Yechiel Leiter ruled out any truce during preparatory talks with his Lebanese counterpart on Friday, ahead of next week’s meeting in Washington.
Leiter declined to address any ceasefire arrangement, and explicitly rejected talks with what he described as the Hezbollah "terrorist organization."
Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to meet on Tuesday at the U.S. State Department in Washington. According to the Lebanese presidency, the talks will focus on a potential ceasefire announcement and a timeline for launching direct negotiations.
Israel has agreed to suspend attacks on Beirut following a request from the United States, Israeli diplomatic sources told local media Haaretz. It also suggested the pause reflects a lack of significant military targets in Beirut at this stage.
U.S. media Axios also confirmed the development, citing two officials who said Washington, Beirut and Israel do not want Iran influencing decisions in Lebanon. Some Israeli officials regard a “pause” as a practical measure that fits within the broader talks with the Lebanese government, it said.
Another Israeli source pointed to mounting pressure from Iran to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon, warning that Tehran could reconsider its own ceasefire arrangements with the U.S. and Israel if progress is not made. Israeli officials have not formally responded to these claims.
Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf stated that any negotiations with the United States in Islamabad must be preceded by a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s frozen assets.
Since March 2, Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,900 people, injured over 6,300, and displaced approximately 1.2 million.
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