\u201cThis is not something we have asked for, nor is it part of the peace negotiations with Iran, but the president would welcome the end of hostilities in Lebanon as part of a peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon,\u201d read a statement attributed to a senior US official that was sent to querying reporters.<\/p>\n
\t The Wednesday night security cabinet meeting ended without a decision, Channel 12 later reported, citing two Israeli officials familiar with the matter.<\/p>\n Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continued on Wednesday. Five IDF soldiers were wounded, one seriously and four lightly, in a Hezbollah rocket attack in southern Lebanon, the military announced. The troops were taken to a hospital and their families were notified, the IDF added.<\/p>\n During a visit to southern Lebanon on Wednesday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said he had approved new battle plans for both Lebanon and Iran and designated southern Lebanon, up to the Litani River, as a \u201ckilling zone for Hezbollah terrorists.\u201d<\/p>\n Temporary truce aimed at spurring Iran, Lebanon peace talks<\/p>\n An Israeli security source told Channel 12 that while Washington seeks to de-escalate the fighting with Hezbollah, it is also sympathetic to Israeli concerns and therefore has proposed a temporary ceasefire lasting one week, preserving an option of returning to fighting if a more robust deal is not reached in that time.<\/p>\n The proposal was first raised days ago by top US envoy Steve Witkoff in talks with senior Israeli and regional officials, the report added, saying that Netanyahu and Israeli officials initially succeeded in swaying the US against the idea. Now, however, they understand the US wishes to move ahead with it.<\/p>\n Tuesday saw Israeli and Lebanese officials meet for a historic summit in Washington, the highest-level meeting between the two countries to date, which US officials hope will lead to serious negotiations on a peace treaty.<\/p>\n Recent days have also seen reported progress in negotiations between Washington and Tehran over a framework to end the Iran war. A two-week ceasefire in that conflict is due to end on April 22.<\/p>\n Iran has said Lebanon must be included in any agreement to end the wider war in the Middle East. Washington has pushed back, saying there is no \u200blink between the two sets of talks.<\/p>\n Israel, which launched the military campaign against Iran jointly with the US six weeks ago, is not represented at the Iran talks. Pakistan, which hosted the initial negotiations, has no diplomatic ties with Israel and does not recognize its sovereignty.<\/p>\n The Lebanese government has called for a ceasefire in its territory as well, but Israel has so far rebuffed the request, remaining committed to its goal of neutralizing the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which, like its patron, openly seeks to destroy Israel. Lebanon\u2019s leaders also have a stated commitment to ridding Hezbollah of its weapons, though Israel is skeptical of its ability to do so.<\/p>\n But Israel has scaled back its fighting in Lebanon and has not carried out airstrikes on the Beirut area since April 8, a day on which it launched its heaviest attacks yet.<\/p>\n Asked at a press conference if the IDF supports a ceasefire in Lebanon, spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said: \u201cWe present to the political echelon a wide range of options and operate according to the political echelon\u2019s directives. Accordingly, we will act.\u201d<\/p>\n \t An Israeli official rejected an Iranian claim that a ceasefire in Lebanon would take effect on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no ceasefire in Lebanon,\u201d a senior Israeli official told The Times of Israel. \u201cIt\u2019s in Lebanon and Israel\u2019s mutual interest to dismantle Hezbollah.\u201d<\/p>\n Senior Hezbollah official Ibrahim al-Moussawi, meanwhile, told Reuters that diplomatic efforts by Iran and other regional states could produce a ceasefire in Lebanon soon, saying Tehran had used its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.<\/p>\n Two other senior Lebanese officials said they had been briefed that efforts were underway for a ceasefire. One of them said the US had been pressuring Israel to work toward a ceasefire, including during Tuesday\u2019s talks in Washington.<\/p>\n The two officials did not have details on when any ceasefire would begin or how long it would last. They said the duration would likely be linked to how long the truce between the United States and Iran holds.<\/p>\n In addition, an official Lebanese source told the Qatari Al-Araby television channel that there are positive indications regarding Lebanon\u2019s request for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, but that Beirut has not yet received an update on the matter.<\/p>\n Hezbollah\u2019s decision to open fire on Israel on March 2 sharply heightened long-standing tensions in Lebanon over its activity. The Lebanese government subsequently banned the terror group\u2019s military wing, though it has taken no action against it on the ground.<\/p>\n Senior Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah condemned the government\u2019s decision to hold talks with Israel. In a televised news conference, he said the government had \u201ctaken a wrong path that leads only to increasing the rift\u201d among Lebanese.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WhatsApp_Image_2026-04-15_at_17.02.46_4_0-640x400.jpeg\")
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\n\t\tIDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir (right) is seen with Nahal Brigade commander Col. Arik Moyal and other officers in southern Lebanon on April 15, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/HF5FhsDasAA7ySl-640x400.jpeg\")
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\n\t\tFrom left: Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, and Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad at the State Department in Washington, April 14, 2026. (Shmulik Almany \/ Israeli Embassy, Washington)<\/p>\n
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