⚔️ ISRAEL SIGNALS FORCEFUL RESPONSE TO IRAN FIRE, LAUNCHES TALKS WITH LEBANON ON HEZBOLLAH DISARMAMENT WHILE CONTINUING STRIKES AND PREPARING FOR SUSTAINED HOSTILITIES IN BEIRUT REGION
⚠️ ISRAEL WARNS HEZBOLLAH AND IRAN OF FORCEFUL RESPONSE: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says Hezbollah is desperate for a ceasefire and that its Iranian backers are pressuring and threatening it out of grave fear that Israel will crush Hezbollah. He says the IDF is prepared and ready to respond forcefully if Iran fires at Israel.
🔸 ISRAEL TO BEGIN TALKS WITH LEBANON ON DISARMING HEZBOLLAH: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that following repeated requests from Lebanon for direct talks, he instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible. He says the talks will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon, and that Israel welcomes the Lebanese prime minister’s call today to demilitarize Beirut.
⚔ ISRAEL SAYS NEGOTIATIONS WILL CONTINUE DURING HOSTILITIES: Israeli officials tell Channel 14 that negotiations with Lebanon will take place under fire. They say Israel is preparing for continuous attacks.
‼️ IDF REITERATES EVACUATION WARNING FOR SOUTHERN BEIRUT SUBURBS: The warning was issued ahead of Israeli airstrikes.
🇱🇧 LEBANESE STATE RESPONSE: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said: "We must immediately strengthen the state's control over the Beirut Governorate and confine weapons to the hands of the state".
Salam also said the Cabinet ordered the Lebanese Army and security forces to immediately establish full state control over the Beirut Governorate and restrict weapons there to legitimate state forces only. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated: "We do not accept anyone negotiating on behalf of the Lebanese state".
🗣️ INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS: The French Foreign Minister stated: “The destruction of the Lebanese state will not destroy Hezbollah; on the contrary, it will strengthen it. We strongly condemn the Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Lebanon must not become a scapegoat for a government frustrated by a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.”
A European Union spokesperson called for Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire and strongly condemned Israel’s attacks, describing them as an unacceptable violation and a threat to regional stability. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the Israeli attacks on Lebanon and called on the international community to intervene immediately to stop them.
🔸 IRANIAN POSITIONS AND DIPLOMACY
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister: Khatibzadeh told the BBC: "The United States must choose between a ceasefire or allowing Israel to strike Lebanon, they can't have cake and eat it."
Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan initially confirmed that an Iranian delegation was set to arrive today in Islamabad ahead of tomorrow’s peace talks, but later deleted that statement.
🚀 HEZBOLLAH FOOTAGE CLAIMS ATTEMPTED NAVAL STRIKE: Hezbollah released footage saying it attempted to target an Israeli Navy vessel with Noor anti-ship cruise missiles several days ago.
Israel denied that any vessel was hit, while Israeli media reported that the missile likely targeted a British warship instead due to misidentification.
🛡️ HOME FRONT COMMAND MAINTAINS DEFENSIVE GUIDELINES: Following the situational assessment, the Home Front Command defensive guidelines remain unchanged and in effect until Friday, April 10, 2026, at 17:00.
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