Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said negotiations are ongoing to extend the ceasefire, warning that no party will be permitted to obstruct security measures or undermine stability.
“Preserving civil peace at this stage of our country’s history is a red line,” Aoun said on X, adding that he would “spare no effort to end the abnormal situation in Lebanon”.
Lebanon’s ambassador to the US, Nada Haddad Maaouad, will represent Lebanon at a preparatory meeting at the US State Department on Thursday, where she will raise the extension of the ceasefire and demand that Israel stop demolition operations in southern Lebanese villages and towns.
Aoun said negotiations are anchored on four conditions: stopping Israeli aggression, achieving an Israeli withdrawal, agreeing the return of prisoners and deploying the Lebanese army.
Lebanon will require that the ceasefire with Israel be prolonged for at least one month, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing a political source familiar with the matter.
“Lebanon will demand an extension for a ceasefire by one month or more.”
The US State Department told RIA Novosti that Lebanon and Israel would hold a second round of talks in Washington at the ambassadorial level on Thursday.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said earlier this week that Lebanon’s willingness to negotiate with Israel does not mean that Beirut has caved in and is ready to make concessions, but rather that it is seeking a lasting end to the armed conflict.
US President Donald Trump announced that Lebanon and Israel had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting April 17. Despite this, the Israeli army has been accused of routinely violating the ceasefire by launching air and artillery strikes and drone attacks. Lebanese movement Hezbollah said on Tuesday that its fighters carried out their first combat operation since the ceasefire began, attacking Israeli army positions.
On April 15, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to destroy Bint Jbeil, labeling it a bastion of the Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it intercepted a Hezbollah drone as the fragile ceasefire with Lebanon was further tested one day before a second round of direct talks between the two countries.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the “hostile aircraft” was flying toward Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon. It was intercepted before it crossed into Israeli territory. The IDF said they viewed the incident as a “blatant violation of the ceasefire.”
Hezbollah said the target was what they called a new artillery encampment in the town of Bayyada in territory occupied by Israeli forces and accused Israel of repeatedly violating the temporary ceasefire agreement.
