Lebanon seeks to extend the truce with Israel during upcoming negotiations
A Lebanese source confirms that Lebanese negotiators in Washington will ask Israel to stop demolishing homes in the occupied southern villages.
A senior official Lebanese source stated that the country will request, during the meeting in Washington on Thursday evening with Israel, an extension of the ceasefire and a halt to the demolition of homes in the occupied southern villages, particularly in light of the ongoing demolition and blasting operations carried out by the Israeli army, especially near border areas.
The U.S. capital is hosting today a second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon at the ambassadorial level, in an attempt to reach a peace agreement.
The Lebanese source, who requested anonymity, said that “the meeting scheduled this evening in Washington follows up on the preparatory meeting held last week,” adding that “Lebanon will request during the meeting the extension of the truce and the cessation of the razing of homes.”
Israeli forces had previously released footage, as part of their plan to establish a buffer zone, showing the demolition of houses, while Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz pledged to relocate residents of border villages within what is known as the “yellow line.”
On the ground, the Israeli army announced on Thursday that it intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” launched toward a group of its soldiers deployed in southern Lebanon. In a statement, it said that “a suspicious aerial target was intercepted in the area where our forces are operating in southern Lebanon, and the results of the interception are under review.”
It added that the target did not enter Israeli territory, noting that, according to standard policy, no alerts were activated. The Israeli army typically uses the term “suspicious aerial target” to refer to drones.
The army did not specify the area where Israeli soldiers were targeted, although it had previously announced the presence of five military divisions in southern Lebanon.
Several similar incidents have been reported over the past two days, with Hezbollah announcing that it had carried out multiple attacks.
The ten-day renewable ceasefire announced by Washington on April 16 expires on Sunday, and it is reportedly violated daily according to the Lebanese side.
On March 2, Israel launched an offensive against Lebanon that resulted in 2,475 deaths, 7,696 injuries, and more than 1.6 million displaced persons—one fifth of the population—along with extensive destruction, according to the latest official figures.
A few days ago, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that the negotiation option has three objectives: ending hostilities, ending the Israeli occupation of southern areas, and deploying the army up to the internationally recognized southern borders.
Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the current war and the previous 2023–2024 war. It also occupies Palestine and territories in Syria, refuses to withdraw, and opposes the establishment of the Palestinian state as stipulated by United Nations resolutions.
