Netanyahu orders direct talks with Lebanon amid ongoing strikes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he instructed officials to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes across the country, Anadolu reports. “In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed at the Government meeting yesterday to open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement posted on US social media platform X. The statement added that the negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing “peaceful relations” between Israel and Lebanon. According to the US news portal Axios, a senior Israeli official said the talks are expected to begin next week. READ: Death toll from Wednesday’s Israeli strikes in Lebanon […]