On the 29th (local time), President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon said he is waiting for the White House's official schedule for direct talks with Israel and set a complete cease-fire as a condition for negotiations.
Meeting with local businesspeople that day, President Aoun said, "The only way for Israel to secure its security is negotiations," and added, "Before talks begin, Israel must accept a comprehensive cease-fire." He continued, "If Israel believes it can achieve security by destroying and encroaching on border villages, it is mistaken."
By contrast, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said in an interview with Saudi state television, "Hezbollah is continuing to drag Lebanon into the quagmire of war even during a cease-fire," adding, "We will respond actively to attacks targeting Israeli forces stationed in Israel's northern border area or southern Lebanon." Minister Sa'ar added, "We have no ambitions for Lebanese territory," and said, "If Hezbollah and other armed factions are completely dismantled, Israel will withdraw its troops."
Israel and Lebanon entered a 10-day cease-fire on the 18th under U.S. mediation. But sporadic clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah have continued in the southern Lebanon border area since. U.S. President Donald Trump has extended the cease-fire for another three weeks.
Israel and Lebanon have already met twice in Washington under U.S. mediation. As Israel has put Hezbollah's disarmament on the negotiating agenda, Hezbollah is strongly opposing the talks themselves.