Lebanese President Urges Ceasefire in Call With U.S. Secretary of State

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun held a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio focused on U.S.-brokered ceasefire talks between Israel and Lebanon. Aoun told Rubio that a ceasefire with Israel was crucial as Israeli and Lebanese military delegations met at the Pentagon.

A statement from Aoun’s office said the president “emphasised the need to exert all efforts to reach a ceasefire, considering it an essential gateway to moving on to any other step”. Rubio reiterated the U.S. administration’s commitment to consolidate the outcomes of previous ambassador-level negotiations meetings in Washington between Israel and Lebanon and expressed support for Lebanon’s stability, independence and sovereignty.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu made a surprise visit to the Lebanese border, confirming Israeli troops are now positioned north of the Litani River. Netanyahu said Israel’s intensified military operations are not going to be limited to areas that people expected them to be.

Hezbollah said it has attacked Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, targeting military vehicles, positions and equipment across several areas. ” Hezbollah also reported launching a rocket barrage at a gathering of Israeli vehicles and soldiers in the town square of Qantara and striking a Merkava tank in the town of Yahmar al-Shaqif.

Sixty thousand worshippers attended Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque despite tightened Israeli restrictions on access to the Old City and the compound. Israeli forces deployed across the Old City, setting up positions at mosque gates and checkpoints around Jerusalem and stopping and searching worshippers.