Media Kampung – 11 April 2026 | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israel Defense Forces will maintain intensive strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, emphasizing that a cease‑fire is not forthcoming.
He added that the military will keep hitting Hezbollah positions until residents of Israel’s northern border can safely return home.
In the same statement Netanyahu gave the cabinet a green light to open direct talks with the Lebanese government, aiming to disarm Hezbollah and achieve a lasting peace agreement.
The move follows repeated requests from Beirut for a diplomatic channel, according to Lebanese officials.
The United States has agreed to host the first round of negotiations in Washington next week, with the State Department confirming the schedule.
US diplomats will be led by Ambassador Michel Issa, while senior Israeli and Lebanese representatives are expected to attend.
The talks are expected to focus on two core issues: dismantling Hezbollah’s armed infrastructure and establishing a bilateral security framework.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump personally called Netanyahu on 10 April, urging Israel to scale back its operations in Lebanon to facilitate a temporary cease‑fire between the US and Iran.
Trump told Netanyahu, “I have spoken with Bibi and she will be calm; we need to be a little more restrained,” as reported by NBC News.
The appeal came after Israel’s largest air campaign in weeks on 8 April, which killed more than 300 civilians and wounded at least 1,150 in southern Lebanon.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that continued Israeli aggression could trigger the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping lane.
Iranian officials cited the recent US‑Iran cease‑fire agreement and said any violation would force Tehran to react, threatening global energy markets.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated that a cease‑fire is the only viable path before any substantive negotiations can proceed.
Hezbollah’s senior spokesperson Ali Fayyad rejected the Israeli overture, stating that Hezbollah would consider talks only after Israeli forces withdraw from Lebanese territory.
The World Health Organization warned that evacuation orders in the Jnah district of Beirut have left two major hospitals without alternative facilities for roughly 450 patients, including 40 in intensive care.
Despite the diplomatic overtures, Netanyahu reaffirmed that there is no cease‑fire in Lebanon and that Israeli forces will continue operations until security for northern Israeli communities is guaranteed.
Analysts note that Israel’s military advantage and perceived weakening of Iranian influence in the region have emboldened Netanyahu’s hardline stance.
The upcoming Washington talks will be closely watched as they could reshape the security dynamics of the Levant and influence the fragile US‑Iran cease‑fire.
As of now, no official response has been issued by the Lebanese authorities regarding the proposed negotiations.
The situation remains volatile, with civilian casualties rising and diplomatic efforts still in their early stages.
Artikel ini dipublikasikan oleh Media Kampung.
Tinggalkan Balasan