Israel and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire into Friday, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement of peace talks with Lebanon, which had continued to reel from major Israeli strikes two days earlier. There was no immediate response to the Israeli announcement from Lebanon, which had repeatedly proposed talks to end the war, or from Hezbollah. Netanyahu said that talks would focus on disarming Hezbollah and “establishing peaceful relations” between the countries.
Negotiations are expected to begin next week at the State Department in Washington, according to a person familiar with the plans. The talks are to be handled on the American side by US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, and on the Israeli side by Israel’s Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the delicacy of the situation.
A Lebanese diplomatic official familiar with the developments said that the country has not yet appointed someone to lead talks from Beirut. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is keen to have a temporary ceasefire when talks commence in parallel with those between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Israel’s announcement came hours after it had warned of escalation and said that it had killed an aide and nephew of Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, Ali Yusuf Harshi.
Later Thursday, Hezbollah said its fighters were engaged in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, from which the Israel Defense Forces has sought in recent days to clear the Iran-backed terror group’s operatives and infrastructure. Hezbollah, in a statement, said it used light arms and RPG fire against Israeli soldiers who were advancing in the town, as well as rocket barrages on other troops in the area. The IDF did not report casualties among Israeli forces on Thursday. (Ed note: Bint Jbeil is not the same town as Gebal in Psalem 83:7. Gebal or Byblos whch is now called Jbeil is located on the coast north of Beirut.) (Source)
