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Israel-Lebanon leaders call stalls as Aoun refuses Netanyahu contact

Trump announces talks, but Beirut insists on ceasefire as condition

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon would speak the following day, but by Thursday signs from Beirut pointed to a breakdown in the plan for an Israel-Lebanon leaders call.

Diplomatic efforts have been unfolding alongside U.S. attempts to build on talks held in Washington earlier this week aimed at halting the fighting between Israel and Lebanon and opening a path toward a broader agreement. Lebanese officials have continued to insist on a ceasefire as a precondition for any direct engagement.

On the ground, hostilities continued throughout Thursday. The Israel Defense Forces carried out strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, while the Iran-backed group launched rockets and drones across a wide area of northern Israel.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun spoke Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been working to facilitate a direct contact between Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Lebanese broadcaster LBCI, Aoun told Rubio he would not speak with Netanyahu.

Trump had written late Wednesday on Truth Social that a direct conversation between the two leaders would take place the next day. “We are trying to create some breathing room between Israel and Lebanon. It’s been a long time since the two leaders last spoke, about 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Great!” he said.

In practice, there is no record of sitting Israeli and Lebanese leaders publicly speaking directly.

Lebanon is believed to be seeking a ceasefire before agreeing to such high-level contact, while Israel has so far declined, aiming to continue degrading Hezbollah’s military capabilities.

Israel’s security cabinet discussed a possible ceasefire in Lebanon during a meeting Wednesday night, but the session ended without a decision.

Speaking Thursday, Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s position, saying a ceasefire would be the “natural starting point” for direct negotiations between the two countries.

Israeli Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel said in a radio interview that a call between Netanyahu and Aoun had been expected later in the day.

Lebanese outlet Al-Jadeed reported that mediators were working to arrange a trilateral call involving Rubio, Netanyahu and Aoun, focused on a ceasefire and steps toward a broader agreement.

Earlier this week, Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the United States, Yechiel Leiter and Nada Hamadeh Moawad, held a direct meeting in Washington. Afterward, Leiter said Beirut and Jerusalem were “on the same side” in confronting Hezbollah, while a joint statement described the talks as positive and potentially leading toward a wider peace arrangement.

A senior U.S. official said Wednesday night that Washington had not asked Israel to agree to a ceasefire as a condition for talks to proceed, though the administration would welcome an end to hostilities as part of a broader agreement.

Cross-border violence continued through Thursday, with rocket fire from Lebanon triggering sirens in northern Israeli cities including Metula, Karmiel, Kiryat Shmona, Rosh Hanikra and Shlomi. No injuries were reported.

The Israel Defense Forces also reiterated large-scale evacuation orders for southern Lebanon.

(Source Times of Israel)

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