Talks and Tension: Israel, Lebanon and a Strained Cease-Fire

Israel has approved direct talks with Lebanon while continuing military strikes on Hezbollah inside Lebanese territory. Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his cabinet to begin negotiations as soon as possible, and some officials say talks could start next week in Washington. The talks are intended to discuss disarming Hezbollah, although Israel says it will keep targeting the group until northern Israel is secure. These strikes have been described as a serious threat to the fragile cease-fire with Iran.

Iran has insisted that the cease-fire reached between Tehran and Washington included Lebanon, and this view has complicated the two-week truce. The United States and Israel have said the cease-fire does not extend to the conflict with Hezbollah. Since heavy Israeli strikes on April 8 caused large civilian losses, several countries and the United Nations have warned that the truce could crumble. Mediators from Pakistan have been involved in arranging the temporary cease-fire, and diplomats say further talks are now more difficult because trust has been damaged.