Israel Launches New Strikes on Lebanon as Peace Talk Efforts Stall Over Troop Withdrawal

Israeli forces conducted a series of destructive airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon during evening hours, prompting the Iranian-backed militant group to respond with rocket fire targeting the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed willingness to engage in direct peace negotiations with the Lebanese government, but both Hezbollah and Beirut have made any dialogue conditional on the immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops. The exchange represents the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the powerful Shiite militant organization that effectively controls large portions of southern Lebanon and maintains significant political influence in the country's government.