Peace negotiations between Iran and USA begin

The Israeli military and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia in Lebanon continue to fire at each other. In Lebanon, the state news agency reported Israeli air strikes in the early morning in the Nabatiya region in the south of the country. Three people were killed when a residential building was destroyed in an attack. Attacks also continued in other parts of the south. An Israeli army spokesman said they were checking the reports.

Israel’s military said it was continuing to thwart Hezbollah attacks. The Israeli army released videos of attacks on Hezbollah rocket launchers, which were destroyed, and of Hezbollah fighters being fired upon after firing rockets into Israel. Hezbollah, for its part, once again claimed attacks on Israeli positions.

The intensity of the mutual attacks has recently decreased. This was preceded by a large-scale wave of attacks by the Israeli military in Lebanon. According to authorities, more than 300 people were killed within a few minutes. US President Donald Trump is said to have then urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reduce the attacks.

The US State Department will host talks between Lebanon and Israel next week. The aim is to announce a ceasefire and begin formal negotiations between Israel and Lebanon with the mediation of the USA, it was said from Beirut. According to a report by the US news portal Axios, Israel is ready for talks with Lebanon, but not for negotiations on a ceasefire with Hezbollah. (sda/dpa)