Netanyahu Authorizes Lebanon Talks on Hezbollah Disarmament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that he has authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon to focus on disarming Hezbollah, a move aimed at securing peace amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes that have killed at least 203 people and wounded more than 1,000 in the country. The escalation in Lebanon threatens a fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, announced by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, which seeks to halt a six-week war that began with joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran in late February.

The conflict erupted after US and Israeli forces targeted Iranian leadership, including the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other officials. Iran retaliated with attacks on US bases and regional targets, drawing in Hezbollah, its ally in Lebanon. Trump's ceasefire, conditional on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ceasing hostilities, has paused major strikes on Iran proper, with no new missile or drone launches reported Thursday. However, Israel maintains that the truce does not apply to its operations against Hezbollah, which it invaded Lebanon last month to neutralize.

Netanyahu's office stated that the...