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Upcoming ceasefire talks between Lebanon and Israel, scheduled for next week in the United States, will be preparatory rather than formal negotiations, a senior Lebanese source said Friday.
“The meeting at the U.S. State Department next week is preparatory, not a negotiation," the source, who requested anonymity, told Turkish news agency Anadolu in a statement.
The expected talks come after U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, saying Tehran had presented a “workable” 10-point proposal for negotiations.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military chief said Friday that the country’s forces remain “in a state of war” in southern Lebanon and are not observing a ceasefire on the northern front, according to an army statement.
"The army continues to operate here in Lebanon," Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said during a visit to areas near Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, where he met with commanders.
He added that the army “is in a state of war” and is “not in a ceasefire on the northern front.”
“In Iran, we are in a ceasefire, but we can return to operating there at any moment, and with great intensity,” he said.
The remarks came as the Israeli army continued its widened assault on Lebanon since Wednesday, killing over 303 people and injuring 1,150 others, according to the Lebanese Civil Defense.
The offensive has continued despite a two-week ceasefire announced Tuesday as part of efforts to reach a broader agreement to halt the conflict launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on Feb. 28, which has left thousands dead and wounded.
While Pakistan, which helped broker the deal, and Iran said the ceasefire includes Lebanon, the United States and Israel have denied that.
Israel has carried out airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2, despite a ceasefire that took effect in November 2024.
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