Netanyahu pushes for Israel-Lebanon talks as Iran warns 'finger on trigger'
Benjamin Netanyahu says he has instructed Israeli officials to begin negotiations with Lebanon over a peace deal as soon as possible.
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"In light of Lebanon's repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to start direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible," the Israeli Prime Minister said.
"The negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon."
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Netanyahu's words came after Iran warned its "fingers remain on the trigger" if Israel continued to strike Lebanon, labelling it a violation of the US-Iran ceasefire.
"This is a dangerous sign of deception and lack of commitment to potential agreements," Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on social media.
"The continuation of these actions will render negotiations meaningless.
"Our fingers remain on the trigger. Iran will never abandon its Lebanese sisters and brothers."
Israeli strikes killed at least 254 people across Lebanon on Wednesday.
The heavy bombardment struck large residential areas in the capital of Beirut, in what the Lebanese presidency described as a "new massacre" by Israel.
In response to what it called "ceasefire violations", the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon fired rockets at northern Israel overnight.
The latest strikes come after the US and Iran agreed a two-week pause in fighting, but it is unclear on whether Lebanon is included in included in the ceasefire.
Israel claims the peace deal does not include its fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon, despite Tehran and Pakistan - who helped broker the truce - saying it does.
The White House backed Israel last night and also said it did not consider Lebanon as part of the agreement.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said this message "has been relayed to all parties", adding: "This will continue to be discussed... but at this point in time they are not included in the ceasefire deal."
Officials have said more than 1,700 people have been killed since Israel launched its latest campaign in Lebanon last month.
Netanyahu has claimed the strikes are aimed removing the threat of Hezbollah from Lebanon to protect communities in northern Israel.
As part of his objectives, the Israeli PM has sent in ground forces and said troops will stay south of the Litani River to create a "security buffer zone”.
The result is an Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, something that took place between 1982 and 2000.
IDF soldiers have destroyed homes and villages in the area where it claims Hezbollah fighters are active.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and will not be allowed to return until "Hezbollah has been removed", Israel says.
But despite the heavy attacks, the militant group still has the ability to strike Israel.