Netanyahu says ‘no ceasefire’ in Lebanon as he pledges to strike Hezbollah with full force

Benjamin Netanyahu said that there will be no ceasefire in Lebanon as he vowed to continue strikes against Hezbollah with “full force”. In a video address posted on X on Thursday (9 April), the Israeli prime minister said strikes on Lebanon will not stop “until we restore your security”. The Israeli prime minister has previously said that the two-week truce between the US and Iran does not apply in Lebanon. On Wednesday (8 April), the IDF launched the largest wave of air strikes in the war so far, killing more than 300 people. Netanyahu also said that he had instructed his government to “open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible”. He said the talks will be focused on disarming Hezbollah and ⁠establishing peaceful relations.