US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he had asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw troops from the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and also spoke with representatives of Hezbollah who “agreed to stop shooting” at Israeli forces. The office of the Israeli Prime Minister later announced that Netanyahu had told Trump that strikes on Beirut would take place if Hezbollah continues to fire “at our cities and citizens”, while Israeli forces will “operate as planned in southern Lebanon”.
The ceasefire between the US and Iran directly links the fighting in Lebanon. Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said he told Lebanon’s parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri that if Israel’s “aggression continues”, Tehran will not only halt peace negotiations with the US, “but it will also be in direct confrontation with the enemy”.
Despite Iran’s warning, Trump said that negotiations with Iran were “continuing at a rapid pace”.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported late on Monday that Israeli air strikes were ongoing in southern Lebanon, with reports of casualties.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said that Israel’s attacks on Lebanon have killed 3,433 people since March, with 10,395 injured.
While both sides continue to trade warnings, it appears that Iran and Israel could return to full-scale fighting, with the US supporting the Israeli side as the Netanyahu government persists with its military campaign against Lebanon.
Also read: Iran suspends talks with US as Israel expands Lebanon offensive
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