JERUSALEM, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday there would be no ceasefire in Lebanon, signaling that Israel will continue military operations while pursuing planned negotiations with Beirut.
"There is no ceasefire in Lebanon," Netanyahu said in a video address to residents of northern Israel. "We continue to strike Hezbollah with force and we will not stop until we restore your security."
He said he had instructed his cabinet to open direct talks with Lebanon following what he described as repeated requests from the Lebanese government.
The negotiations, expected to begin next week in Washington, aim to disarm Hezbollah and reach a "historic and lasting" peace agreement, Netanyahu added. Delegations will be led by the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States.
The announcement came a day after Israel launched large-scale airstrikes across Lebanon, including about 100 strikes carried out within minutes against Hezbollah positions. Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health reported more than 300 killed and roughly 1,150 wounded.
Israel and Lebanon have no formal diplomatic relations and remain in a state of war. ■
