Israel to begin direct talks with Lebanon

(Sharecast News) - Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet on Thursday to start direct talks with Lebanon "as soon as possible". The Israeli prime minister said in a statement that the talks "will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon".

The announcement came a day after Israel launched its worst attack on Lebanon since the start of the conflict, hitting 100 targets in 10 minutes and leaving 203 dead and more than 1000 wounded, according to the country's Health Ministry.

A senior Lebanese official told Reuters that Lebanon has spent the last 24 ​hours advocating for a ‌temporary ceasefire to allow for broader talks with Israel, saying it ⁠would be a "separate ​track but the same model" ​as the fragile ceasefire brokered by Pakistan between the US ​and Iran.

The official ​said no date or location had ‌been ⁠set yet but Lebanon needed the US as a mediator and guarantor ​of ​any ⁠agreement.

The official spoke to Reuters after ​Netanyahu ⁠announced that he had instructed the start of ⁠direct ​negotiations with Lebanon.