A Hezbollah lawmaker reiterated that the group will reject any direct conversations between Israel and Lebanon after the former announced they would begin taking place next week.
In a statement shared through the Iranian proxy's media channel, Ali Fayyad said Hezbollah reiterates "the necessity of upholding national principles, foremost among them the Israeli withdrawal, the cessation of hostilities, and the return of residents to their villages and towns."
He also called on the Lebanese government to "adhere to the ceasefire as a precondition before proceeding with any further steps."
A Lebanese official told AFP that the country wants a ceasefire before engaging in talks, while an Israeli one claimed they will be conducted while hostilities continue.
The remarks follow the announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said on Thursday the country opened direct negotiations with Lebanon as Iran threatens to not hold negotiations on the war if attacks against Hezbollah in the country continue.
"In light of Lebanon's repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible. The negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon. Israel appreciates the Lebanese prime minister's call today to demilitarize Beirut," Netanyahu said in a statement.
The development comes as Israel continued to escalate attacks in Lebanon. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday that Ali Youssef Kharshi, secretary and nephew of Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, was killed in Beirut.
Netanyahu added that, "at the same time, overnight, the IDF struck a series of terror infrastructures in southern Lebanon: crossings used to transfer thousands of weapons, rockets, and launchers, as well as weapons depots, launchers, and Hezbollah headquarters."
According to Axios journalist Barak Ravid, the first meeting will take place at the State Department next week. "The U.S. side will be led by the Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa. Israel will be represented by its Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter. The Lebanese side will be represented by its Ambassador to Washington Nada Hamadeh-Moawad," he added.
Elsewhere, President Donald Trump told NBC News that Israel is going to "low-key" attacks in Lebanon. "I spoke with Bibi and he's going to low-key it. I just think we have to be sort of a little more low-key," Trump added.
