Israel's Netanyahu opens the door to talks with Lebanon

The fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire could be bolstered if Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon halt attacks on each other

Published: April 10, 2026 3:05am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday he was open to ceasefire talks with Lebanon a day after its bombing of the country reportedly killed the Hezbollah security chief Naim Qassem.

Lebanon retaliated to the Israeli strikes by sending around 70 missiles over its border into northern Israel, though those strikes reportedly caused only minor damage

Israel’s continued clashes with Lebanon, its neighbor to the north, have endangered the U.S. peace talks with Iran.

Now, Netanyahu said he is open to talks with Lebanese leaders, though he did not promise to halt attacks on Lebanon-based Hezbollah rebels during the talks. Hezbollah is an Iran-based insurgent group operating within Lebanon.

Some regional leaders hope that if Israel and Lebanon can reach a truce in could make the two-week ceasefire agreed to between the U.S. and Israel more likely to hold. Up to now, both sides of that agreement have accused the other of not respecting the terms of the pact

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