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Lebanon is calling for an immediate ceasefire to halt the ongoing conflict with Israel and Hezbollah, as a prerequisite for further negotiations. The country is also pledging to address the disarmament of Hezbollah.
In a bid to foster dialogue, the president has extended an invitation to the leaders of both Israel and Lebanon to convene at the White House. He described this as an opportunity for “the first meaningful talks” between the nations since 1983.
Expressing optimism, Trump shared on his Truth Social platform, “Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly.”
Back in 1983, Lebanon and Israel reached an agreement that included Lebanon’s formal recognition of Israel and Israel’s commitment to withdraw its forces from Lebanon.
However, this agreement unraveled amidst Lebanon’s civil war and was officially annulled the following year.
Trump said the pause in fighting followed “excellent” conversations with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Lebanese president refuses to speak with Israeli PM
During the fragile ceasefire with Iran, fighting has continued in Lebanon between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Trump had announced that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon would speak about halting the fighting. If that were to occur, it would be the first direct conversation between the leaders of the two countries in more than 30 years.
But at one point on Thursday, Aoun refused to speak to Netanyahu, a government official familiar with the developments told The Associated Press.
The government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said the remarks were made during a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that Washington “understands Lebanon’s position”.
Washington has not publicly stated its support of a ceasefire as a precondition, and the Israeli government has framed the talks as peace negotiations with a focus on disarming Hezbollah.
Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire across the border, with Hezbollah targeting towns in northern Israel with rockets and drones. Israeli fire against southern Lebanon intensified, especially around the cities of Tyre, Nabatieh and the strategic town of Bint Jbeil near the border with Israel.
Israel and Lebanon have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948, and Lebanon remains deeply divided more than diplomatic engagement with Israel.
Israeli troops have pushed deeper into southern Lebanon to create what officials have called a “security zone,” which Netanyahu has said will extend at least eight to 10 kilometres into Lebanon.
Pakistan army chief meets with Iranian parliament speaker
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s powerful army chief met on Thursday with Iran’s parliament speaker as part of international efforts to press for an extension to a ceasefire that has paused more than seven weeks of war between Israel, the US and the Islamic Republic.
It was unclear whether the frantic diplomacy could lead to a lasting deal as the two-week ceasefire passes the halfway mark. The Iran war has killed thousands of people and upended global markets by disrupting the flow of oil.
Iranian state television did not provide details on the meeting between Pakistani Army General Asim Munir and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who has emerged as his country’s chief negotiator.
There was no immediate comment from Pakistan, which has become a key mediator after hosting direct talks between the US and Iran that authorities said helped narrow differences between the sides. Mediators are seeking a new round before the ceasefire expires next week.
The White House said any further talks regarding Iran would likely take place in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, though no decision had been made on whether to resume negotiations. The fragile ceasefire is holding despite a US naval blockade of Iranian ports and Iranian counter-threats to target regional ports across the Red Sea.
The war has jolted markets and rattled the global economy as shipping has been cut off and airstrikes have pounded military and civilian infrastructure. Oil prices have fallen amid hopes for an end to fighting, and US stocks on Wednesday surpassed records set in January.
Officials say US and Iran making progress
Even as the US blockade on Iranian ports and renewed Iranian threats strained the ceasefire, regional officials reported progress, telling AP that the United States and Iran had an “in-principle agreement” to extend it to allow for more diplomacy. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations.
The commander of Iran’s joint military command, Ali Abdollahi, threatened to halt trade in the region if the US does not lift its naval blockade, and a newly appointed military adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said he does not support extending the ceasefire.
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