Netanyahu Authorizes Israel-Lebanon Direct Talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that he has authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon to begin as soon as possible, focusing on disarming the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group and establishing formal relations between the two nations, which have been technically at war since Israel's founding in 1948.

The announcement came a day after Israeli airstrikes on Beirut and other areas of Lebanon killed more than 300 people and wounded over 1,000, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry, marking the deadliest day in the country since the conflict escalated on February 28. Israel stated the strikes targeted Hezbollah positions, as the group joined the broader war in support of Iran. Netanyahu's office said the move responds to repeated requests from Lebanon for direct talks. Negotiations are expected to start next week at the U.S. State Department in Washington, with the U.S. represented by Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa and Israel by Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter. Lebanese representation remains unclear, though a senior Lebanese official indicated the country is pursuing a diplomatic track with U.S. mediation.