Lebanon demands ceasefire before Israel talks can begin
Lebanon will only join talks with Israel if there's a ceasefire first, a senior official in the Lebanese president's office told the BBC. The statement comes as the US has reportedly planned negotiations between the two countries for next week.
Lebanon has set a firm condition for any peace talks with Israel: a ceasefire must already be in place before negotiations can begin. A senior official in the Lebanese president's office made this clear to the BBC as reports emerged of potential US-mediated talks next week.
The timing is critical. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu recently said there is no ceasefire in Lebanon, even as Israel launched fresh strikes in the region. This contradicts what many in Lebanon believed was already a ceasefire agreement.
Neither Israel nor Lebanon have publicly confirmed the US talks scheduled for next week. The Lebanese government's ceasefire demand adds a major hurdle to any diplomatic efforts.
The conflict has devastated both sides, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. Families have been displaced and infrastructure damaged as the fighting continues.
This demand could block peace talks aimed at ending the deadly conflict between Israel and Lebanon. Without these negotiations, the fighting that has killed civilians and displaced families could continue indefinitely.
Watch for US response to Lebanon's ceasefire demand and whether next week's reported talks will proceed.
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