The direct talks between the leaders of Israel and Lebanon that U.S. President Donald Trump had foreshadowed have effectively fallen through, according to reports.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on the 16th (local time) that he spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but he did not mention whether he had contacted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Lebanese outlet LBCI also reported that President Aoun conveyed to Minister Rubio his final decision not to hold a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
According to Reuters, President Aoun informed the United States through the Lebanese Embassy in Washington that he would not have a call with the Israeli prime minister. It was also reported that Aoun indicated he has no intention of speaking with Netanyahu in the near future.
Earlier, Aoun said in a statement that "a cease-fire must precede any direct negotiations with Israel."
The Israeli military also carried out intense bombardments in southern and eastern Lebanon that day, reportedly killing 11 people. A bridge that had been the only passage across the Litani River was also destroyed.
Netanyahu said in a video statement the previous day that the Israeli military is continuing its attacks on Hezbollah, adding that he had ordered the security zone in southern Lebanon to be expanded eastward to the Syrian border.
The previous day, President Trump wrote on Truth Social that "it has been a very long time, like 34 years, since the leaders of Israel and Lebanon spoke," adding, "tomorrow's meeting will be great." He also said it was intended to "create a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon."