BEIRUT — The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah group has called on the government to abandon upcoming direct talks with Israel, labeling them as concessions that favor the Jewish state and advocating instead for indirect negotiations through a third party.
Naim Kassem, Hezbollah's secretary-general, made the remarks in a letter to the group's officials on Tuesday, as reported by the Associated Press. The statement comes just days before Lebanon and Israel are set to engage in two days of direct discussions in Washington starting Thursday. These talks aim to address the recent escalation of fighting that erupted two months ago and to chart a path forward for relations between the two nations, which have been in a state of war since Israel's founding in 1948.
The latest conflict began on March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel, just two days after the United States and Israel conducted strikes against Iran. That incident sparked a fierce exchange of fire along the border, leading to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on April 17. Despite the truce, both sides have continued sporadic attacks, undermining efforts to stabilize the region.
Kassem argued that direct negotiations "benefit Israel" and represent "concessions by Lebanese authorities," according to his letter. He urged a return to the model of indirect talks used in previous years, including those that facilitated the November 2024 ceasefire. Indirect negotiations typically involve a mediator, such as the United States or another international actor, to facilitate communication without face-to-face meetings.
The Hezbollah leader also addressed internal Lebanese demands regarding the group's arsenal, insisting that the issue of its weapons possession is "an internal affair" and should not be included in discussions with Israel. The Lebanese government has repeatedly called for Hezbollah's disarmament since the fighting broke out in early March, deeming the group's military activities illegal under national law.
Lebanese authorities have outlined five key demands in the ongoing diplomatic push: an immediate cessation of hostilities, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, the deployment of Lebanese troops south of the Litani River, the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, and the safe return of displaced civilians to their homes. Kassem stated Tuesday that Hezbollah is "ready to cooperate" to achieve these points, signaling a willingness to align with the government's broader objectives despite disagreements over the format of talks with Israel.
Even as diplomatic efforts intensify, violence persists along the border. Lebanon's Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine reported Tuesday that since the ceasefire took effect on April 17, 380 people have been killed and 1,122 wounded in Lebanon. This brings the total death toll from the war, which started on March 2, to 2,882 killed and 8,786 wounded, according to official figures provided to reporters.
Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple locations in southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley early Tuesday, as reported by the state-run National News Agency (NNA). In the village of Jibchit, the strikes killed three people and wounded four, NNA said. The Israeli military had issued evacuation warnings beforehand to residents of Sohmor in the Bekaa Valley and four villages in southern Lebanon, citing security concerns.
Further incursions were reported in the southern village of Deir Mimas along the Litani River, where an Israeli force allegedly entered the area around 5 a.m. local time (2 a.m. GMT) and destroyed a solar-powered water pumping station that supplies fresh water to the village. The NNA described the explosion as causing "widespread damage," disrupting a critical resource for local residents. The Israeli military released photos of its troops positioned along the Litani River but did not specify the exact locations or provide details on the operation.
In response, Hezbollah issued a statement claiming its fighters struck Israeli troops with rockets Tuesday morning near the Litani River in the village of Deir Seryan. The group provided no additional details on the outcome of the attack, but it underscored the ongoing tit-for-tat exchanges that have characterized the post-ceasefire period.
The violence has not been confined to the border regions. Hezbollah confirmed Tuesday that one of its senior military commanders, Ahmed Ghaleb Balout, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on May 6 near Beirut. Balout, described by the group as a veteran who "spent much of his life on the battlefield," was targeted in a southern suburb of the capital—the first such strike near Beirut since the ceasefire began. The Israeli military acknowledged the operation on Thursday, identifying Balout as a commander in Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force and stating that two other militants were also killed in the raid.
These incidents highlight the fragility of the April 17 truce, which was intended to halt the escalation that followed the initial Hezbollah rocket barrage. The conflict has displaced thousands in both Lebanon and northern Israel, with cross-border fire continuing to claim lives and infrastructure on a near-daily basis. Lebanese officials have expressed frustration over Israel's failure to fully withdraw, while Israeli authorities maintain that operations are necessary to neutralize threats from Hezbollah positions.
As the Washington talks approach, the divergence in approaches—from Hezbollah's push for indirect dialogue to the government's apparent willingness to engage directly—could complicate Lebanon's negotiating stance. The inclusion or exclusion of Hezbollah's disarmament in the agenda remains a point of contention, with the group viewing it as a domestic matter beyond Israel's purview.
Broader regional dynamics add layers of complexity. The March 2 flare-up was triggered in the shadow of U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran, Hezbollah's key backer, raising fears of a wider conflagration involving multiple fronts. International mediators, including the U.S., have been instrumental in past ceasefires, such as the one in November 2024, and may play a pivotal role in bridging gaps during the upcoming discussions.
Looking ahead, the success of the Washington meetings will depend on whether both sides can adhere to the ceasefire's terms and address core issues like border security and prisoner exchanges. Hezbollah's offer of cooperation on Lebanon's five demands suggests potential for alignment on national interests, even as the group resists direct engagement with Israel. For now, residents in southern Lebanon continue to bear the brunt of the unresolved tensions, with daily life interrupted by strikes, evacuations, and the constant threat of renewed hostilities.