Axios: Lebanon, US ask Israel to pause strikes ahead of direct talks

The Lebanese government and the Trump administration have asked Israel for a “pause” in its attacks on Hezbollah ahead of planned direct talks between Israel and Lebanon next week, two sources familiar with the matter told Axios. 

The Israeli military campaign in Lebanon has become a point of contention in broader negotiations between the United States and Iran. Tehran has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, while Washington maintains that Lebanon was not covered by the agreement. Nonetheless, U.S. officials have urged Israel to de-escalate.

Both the U.S. and Lebanese governments want any ceasefire to emerge from direct negotiations between Israel and the Lebanese government, rather than as a result of pressure from Iran. Some Israeli officials reportedly agree and believe it would be in Israel’s interest to declare a temporary “pause” within the context of talks with Beirut.

On April 14, the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington are scheduled to meet under U.S. auspices at the State Department for an initial round of direct negotiations. More detailed discussions are expected to follow.

On April 10, the ambassadors held a preparatory trilateral call with one of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s advisers. Following the call, the Lebanese side said the parties agreed to meet on April 14 to “discuss announcing a ceasefire.”

However, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said in a statement that Israel had agreed “to promote a peace agreement with Lebanon, but it did not agree to discuss a ceasefire with the terrorist organization Hezbollah.”

Behind the scenes, two sources said the Lebanese government, through U.S. mediators, asked Israel to make a “gesture” ahead of the April 14 meeting and “pause” its airstrikes. Beirut proposed that Israel return to the understandings of the November 2024 ceasefire and carry out strikes only against imminent threats from Hezbollah.

The sources said the U.S. supports the Lebanese request and is pressing Israel to accept it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reviewing the proposal and has not yet made a decision. An Israeli official said: “There is no ceasefire.”

Accepting a ceasefire could be politically challenging for Netanyahu. The Israeli government has indicated it prefers to hold negotiations with Lebanon “under fire.” However, a second Israeli source said Netanyahu may consider a short tactical pause in airstrikes.

By Sabina Mammadli