Will Israel and Lebanon start ceasefire talks?

Following large-scale Israeli attacks on Lebanon that resulted in significant casualties, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed his cabinet to begin ceasefire talks with Lebanon. The announcement comes after repeated calls from Beirut for direct talks. Despite the call for negotiations, Israel continues to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, while Hezbollah also fires missiles into Israel. Analysts suggest the recent Israeli attacks may be an attempt to derail upcoming peace talks between the United States and Iran, as Iran has stated that a ceasefire in both Iran and Lebanon is a prerequisite for negotiations. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began as a result of the US-Israel war on Iran, with Hezbollah acting in defense of Tehran.

The Israeli army is currently bombing Lebanon amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. According to the Israeli military, there is "no ceasefire" in effect with Hezbollah. The renewed bombings indicate a continuation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, escalating tensions in the region. The specific targets and extent of the damage from the Israeli strikes were not detailed in the provided information. The conflict's continuation raises concerns about further escalation and regional instability.

Following what Lebanon believed was a ceasefire, Israel launched a series of intense strikes on Beirut and other regions, including the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon. The attacks, described as some of the heaviest since Hezbollah joined the conflict in March, hit densely populated areas, including the city center, and caught many by surprise. Hospitals were overwhelmed with casualties suffering from severe injuries, and search and recovery operations are underway for those missing. Israel claims to have killed over 70 terrorists and targeted a high-ranking Hezbollah official, while Hezbollah responded with rocket fire into northern Israel. The attacks prompted a national day of mourning in Lebanon, with President Aoun describing the events as a massacre.

The fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran is under strain as Donald Trump accuses Iran of violating the agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated Iran is not allowing oil to flow through the strait, causing disruptions to global energy supplies. Iran cites Israel's ongoing attacks on Lebanon as a reason for the blockade. Despite the tensions, a US delegation is scheduled to meet with Iranian representatives in Pakistan for peace talks. Trump has asked Israel to de-escalate its operations in Lebanon to facilitate negotiations, while Israel insists there is no ceasefire and continues to strike Hezbollah targets.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for direct negotiations with Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and establish relations, despite ongoing tensions and no formal ceasefire. The talks, potentially beginning next week in Washington D.C., aim to de-escalate conflict amid a fragile ceasefire in the broader Iran war. These developments follow Israeli strikes on Beirut and concerns over Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz. However, US President Trump has expressed skepticism about Iran's adherence to the ceasefire regarding oil passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, technically at war since 1948, represent a significant step towards regional stability, though challenges remain.

Negotiations between the US and Iran to end their ongoing war are facing uncertainty due to conflicting interpretations of Iran's proposed 10-point peace plan. The plan, the basis for upcoming talks in Islamabad, is meant to build upon a fragile two-week ceasefire. While President Trump initially called the plan "workable," US officials, including Vice President Vance, have since offered mixed responses, with Vance dismissing the publicised version. A key point of contention is Iran's right to enrich uranium, with discrepancies existing between the English and Persian versions of the plan. The US had previously presented a 15-point plan that Iran rejected as "maximalist," which included demands such as Iran ending uranium enrichment and ceasing support for regional proxies.

A mother of newborn twins, identified as Ghada, told the BBC that her home in Lebanon was bombed, displacing her and destroying her belongings. She is among over one million people displaced in Lebanon due to intensified Israeli attacks on Hezbollah. Ghada and her babies are now sheltering in a university-turned-shelter in Sidon, Lebanon's third-largest city, which has taken in a large share of displaced families. The displacement is a result of escalating conflict, including Israeli strikes and Hezbollah rocket fire, despite a ceasefire agreement in 2024. Israel's Defence Minister stated plans to create a buffer zone in southern Lebanon, demolishing homes in villages near the Israeli border. The conflict intensified after Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel in retaliation for Israel's assassination of Iran's supreme leader.

Due to escalating Israeli military actions, including air attacks and a ground invasion, over one million people have been displaced across Lebanon as of April 2026. Many families fleeing the violence in southern Lebanon are seeking refuge in schools and public buildings in the mountains, such as in Qabr Chamoun. These locations have been converted into shelters providing temporary housing for those displaced. The Israeli military campaign intensified after Hezbollah launched an attack in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli air attack in February. This recent escalation follows repeated violations by Israel of a ceasefire agreement established in late November 2024 after more than a year of cross-border attacks.

Israeli air strikes near the Lebanese Italian Hospital in Tyre, Lebanon, have damaged the facility and injured 11 people. The strikes, which destroyed nearby buildings, shattered windows and caused ceilings to collapse within the hospital. A series of attacks also hit the Tyre region, including the port, resulting in at least one death. An Israeli drone strike on the outskirts of Tyre killed two people. The Israeli military issued a forced displacement order to Tyre residents, indicating further strikes on Hezbollah targets. Separately, the NNA reported that Israeli forces abducted a man in the Lebanese town of Shebaa. Israel is also continuing its ground invasion.

Israel intensified its strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon on Saturday, targeting infrastructure in Beirut and destroying a bridge in the east to impede Hezbollah reinforcements. Explosions were reported in Beirut's southern suburbs, a frequent target of Israeli strikes amid its ground invasion in southern Lebanon. The conflict escalated after Hezbollah initiated rocket attacks on Israel in response to a US-Israeli action that killed an Iranian leader on March 2. UNIFIL reported that three peacekeepers were wounded in southern Lebanon near the border, marking the third such incident in recent days. The ongoing strikes and cross-border attacks highlight the continued tensions and violence between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israel has intensified its attacks on Lebanon this week, striking areas beyond Hezbollah's control, including a residential neighborhood north of Beirut and the Jnah neighborhood in the capital. The Israeli military claims it targeted Hezbollah infrastructure and killed senior commanders in Beirut. Strikes also continued in Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut and southern Lebanon. A health facility in the south was hit, killing a paramedic, and a building near Beirut's airport was destroyed after evacuation. These attacks follow Hezbollah's involvement in the regional conflict since March 2, after attacks on its ally Iran. The Lebanese army has withdrawn from some southern positions after an Israeli strike killed a soldier.

The U.S. State Department is urging Americans to leave Lebanon due to targeted threats from Iran and its proxy militias against American universities in the Middle East. The U.S. Embassy in Beirut describes the security situation as volatile, citing airstrikes, drones, and rocket attacks throughout the country, particularly in the south, Beqaa, and parts of Beirut. Americans in southern Lebanon, near the Syrian border, in refugee settlements, and in Beirut's southern suburbs are strongly encouraged to depart immediately. Commercial flights are available from Beirut Rafic Hariri airport, and the U.S. Embassy is offering limited emergency passport services. Routine consular services, including visa operations, are suspended, and travel to Lebanon is not advised.

Since March 2026, intensified Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon have severely impacted the healthcare system. According to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health, Israeli strikes have killed 53 medical workers, destroyed 87 ambulances or medical centers, and forced five hospitals to close. Experts and analysts suggest this destruction is intended to displace the population from the south. These attacks and evacuation orders are cutting people off from essential medical care. The World Health Organization has also reported direct attacks on health facilities. The conflict escalated after Hezbollah claimed an attack in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, leading Israel to expand its strikes and issue mass evacuation orders, displacing 1.2 million people.

In March 2026, Lebanon is experiencing a second large-scale Israeli attack within two years, exacerbating the suffering of its population amidst a US-Israeli war on Iran. Approximately a quarter of Lebanon's population has been displaced due to Israeli evacuation orders in the south and Beirut's southern suburbs. The renewed conflict began after Hezbollah retaliated for the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, ending a fragile ceasefire that had been in place since November 2024. Israel has intensified attacks on southern Lebanon and declared its intention to occupy the region, leading to increased frustration and fatigue among Lebanese civilians due to ongoing violence, economic strain, and uncertainty about the conflict's duration. Foreigners are said to be the most vulnerable.

Amidst renewed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel has expanded its military targets in Lebanon to include bridges over the Litani River. Israeli forces have already destroyed a bridge on the southern Lebanese coastal highway over the Litani River, a strategic location. This strike severed a key connection between Nabatiyeh and the al-Hujair valley. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has characterized Israel's targeting of bridges as a potential prelude to a ground invasion. The conflict has led to displacement of Lebanese civilians seeking shelter in Beirut.

Amidst escalating conflict, Israel intends to occupy a portion of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, establishing what Defence Minister Israel Katz calls a "security zone." This area constitutes approximately one-tenth of Lebanon. Katz announced the plan at a meeting with the military chief of staff. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese group, views this potential occupation as an "existential threat" and has vowed to resist any Israeli troop presence south of the Litani. The group stated that they will confront what they see as aggression and defend their land. Katz previously warned Lebanon that failure to disarm Hezbollah could result in territorial losses.

Due to the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran, over a million people have been displaced in Lebanon, particularly after Israel issued evacuation orders for southern regions. This displacement follows intensified Israeli campaigns against Hezbollah in Lebanon, triggered by rocket fire into northern Israel. Displaced families, many from Hezbollah-supported areas, are struggling with overwhelmed shelters and are forced to sleep in cars or makeshift tents. The BBC spoke with displaced families, including children and pregnant women, highlighting their difficult living conditions amid the conflict. The situation is particularly dire as families face extreme weather conditions and a lack of adequate shelter.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned that Lebanon faces a potential "humanitarian catastrophe" due to Israel's intensified bombardment and ground invasion, which began in early March. According to the UN, over 1.2 million people have been displaced across the country, including areas from southern Lebanon to Beirut. UNHCR's representative stated that Lebanon's shelter system is struggling to accommodate the increasing number of displaced families, who are living in constant fear due to the strikes. The attacks intensified after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel following the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The UNHCR expressed concern about the psychological impact on children.

In March 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is "breaking boundaries in every sense of the word" and working to expand its buffer zone from Lebanon. This announcement follows intensified Israeli attacks on Lebanon that began earlier in March. The attacks were initiated after Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israeli territory. These actions occurred in the context of the US-Israel war on Iran. The expansion of the buffer zone aims to create a larger security perimeter for Israel along its northern border with Lebanon.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of directing Hezbollah's military operations against Israel, including drone attacks on Cyprus. These accusations come amid already strained relations between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government. Salam stated the IRGC is managing the military operation in Lebanon, with IRGC officials entering the country with false passports. This follows Hezbollah firing rockets into Israel in early March, claiming it was retaliation for the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader and Israeli aggression. Since early March, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed over 1,000 people and displaced over 1.2 million. Analysts suggest the IRGC has played a crucial role in Hezbollah's preparations for renewed conflict.