The United States is taking steps to ensure that Israeli attacks in Lebanon do not disrupt the ceasefire.

The United States is actively working to ensure that Israel’s ongoing strikes in Lebanon do not disrupt talks with Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reduce the intensity of the attacks, as they are putting a fragile ceasefire at risk. Following a phone call between Trump and Netanyahu, Israel said on Thursday that it would begin direct talks with Lebanon; a U.S. official noted that the call was shorter than their usual discussions. Lebanese officials have expressed interest in negotiations that could pave the way for long-term peace, but insisted that Israeli strikes must stop first. Earlier, on Wednesday, Israel launched heavy attacks in Lebanon after a U.S.-Iran ceasefire was announced. Until the Trump–Netanyahu call, the Trump administration had not urged Israel to halt or scale down its operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, a U.S. official said Trump is concerned that continued Israeli attacks in Lebanon could undermine the ceasefire and efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, Iran and Pakistan, which is mediating the ceasefire, say Israel’s actions in Lebanon violate the truce. In his discussion with Netanyahu, Trump acknowledged Israel’s need for self-defense against Hezbollah, but emphasized that reducing strikes in Lebanon would support the ceasefire. Randa Slim, director of the Middle East program at the Stimson Center, said that at this stage, scaling back Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon has effectively become a precondition for starting U.S.-Iran talks. Recently, Israel has expanded its operations in Lebanon; Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military is planning to take control of the Litani River area—about 20 miles from the Israel-Lebanon border—a strategic zone. Israel has long sought to push Hezbollah forces north of this area. Israeli officials said the operations will not stop, though one person familiar with the matter indicated that Israel may limit its strikes in line with Trump’s request. Nevertheless, Netanyahu stated, “There is no ceasefire in Lebanon; we will continue our operations against Hezbollah with full force.”