'Gesture' before talks: US, Lebanon ask Israel for pause in strikes

The Lebanese government and the administration of Donald Trump have asked Israel to pause its attacks on Hezbollah ahead of direct Israel–Lebanon talks scheduled for next week, according to sources familiar with the matter.Axios sources said the request is not for a formal ceasefire but for a “gesture” that would allow negotiations to begin in a less hostile environment. The move comes as Israeli strikes in Lebanon remain a key point of tension in broader regional diplomacy involving the US and Iran.US officials said they are backing the Lebanese request and have urged Israel to consider de-escalation. They maintain that while Lebanon was not formally included under any ceasefire framework cited by Iran, reducing military activity could help create space for negotiations.Israeli officials, however, said there is currently no ceasefire in place. They said Israel is open to pursuing a broader agreement with Lebanon but will not negotiate a ceasefire with Hezbollah.According to the Axios sources, Lebanon has conveyed through US mediators a proposal for Israel to scale back strikes and limit operations to imminent threats, effectively returning to understandings linked to the November 2024 ceasefire arrangement.

The US is said to support the idea and is pressing Israel to accept it. They further claimed that the Israeli side is reviewing the request. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is yet to take a decision, officials indicated a short tactical pause in airstrikes has not been ruled out.The developments come ahead of a meeting in Washington next week between Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors under US auspices, marking the first round of direct talks. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is also expected to visit Washington for discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in what could shape the next phase of negotiations.