Lebanon says it will join talks with Israel only if ceasefire holds

Lebanon will take part in direct negotiations with Israel next week only if a ceasefire is firmly in place beforehand, a senior official from the Lebanese president's office has told the BBC.

The official confirmed that Lebanon would participate "if, and only if, there is a ceasefire in place beforehand," adding that the date and time of the meeting have not yet been set.

Direct talks between Lebanon and Israel are uncommon, as the two countries typically communicate through intermediaries such as the United States. Efforts to establish negotiations have been ongoing since a ceasefire agreement in November 2024, with US envoys previously facilitating indirect discussions.

However, confusion remains over whether the reported US-Iran ceasefire applies to Lebanon, where Hezbollah is based. Pakistan has suggested it does, while both the United States and Israel have said it does not. Reports indicate the ceasefire is "in name only and every aspect of it is flawed."

Tensions on the ground continue. The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah positions after detecting rockets launched from southern Lebanon toward Israel, targeting sites used to launch the attacks to "remove the threat."

Israel's emergency service, Magen David Adom, said no casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are ongoing elsewhere. Pakistan is preparing to host potential talks involving US and Iranian delegations, though a senior Iranian official said the meeting is "not finalised yet."

In a series of Truth Social posts, US President Donald Trump also criticised Iran's handling of the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran is doing a "very poor job" managing the passage and warning against "charging fees to tankers going through."

The situation remains fluid, with prospects for talks dependent on whether a stable ceasefire can be secured in the coming days.