Will Israel and Lebanon start ceasefire talks?

Israel and Hezbollah continued to trade attacks on Friday – although at a reduced intensity.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has directed his cabinet to begin ceasefire talks with Lebanon “as soon as possible”, a day after his country unleashed the largest-scale attacks yet on its neighbour, killing at least 300 people and injuring 1,150.

In an X statement in Hebrew on Thursday, Netanyahu said he had made the request after “repeated calls” from Beirut to open direct talks but confirmed that Israel is still striking Hezbollah – even as analysts warn that the attacks could derail peace talks between the United States and Iran set to begin on Saturday in Pakistan.

Israel’s heaviest bombing of Lebanon on Wednesday came without usual warnings, just hours after the US and Iran announced a ceasefire in the US-Israel war on Iran that began on February 28.

Strikes continued in Lebanon on Friday morning, although at a reduced pace. Hezbollah, too, has fired missiles into Israel.

Experts say Wednesday’s bloody attacks were likely designed to derail Tehran’s talks with the US, as Iran has insisted that halting fire on both Iran and Lebanon would form the basis for any negotiations.