Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” a move seen as an effort to support the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.

In a video message, Netanyahu said the talks aim to achieve two goals, disarming Hezbollah of its weapons and securing a historic peace agreement. 

According to a U.S. official cited by Associated Press, Israel-Lebanon talks will start next week at the U.S. State Department in Washington. There was no immediate response from Lebanese officials. 

The announcement came as heavy Israeli strikes continued to damage parts of Lebanon, where more than 300 people were killed on Wednesday. Iran condemned the attacks, saying Lebanon is included in the ceasefire agreement, while Israel and the United States have said Lebanon is not covered by the two-week truce.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said among the targets of recent Israeli strikes were a tunnel leading to underground infrastructure that stores weapons, as well as Hezbollah anti-tank launch positions, observation posts, and command centers.

🔎LOCATED: A shaft leading to underground infrastructure, including a cache of weapons, including explosives, rockets, an RPG launcher and grenades.

Additionally, the IDF:
• Eliminated 70 + terrorists, including a terrorist cell that had planned to carry out mortar fire toward… pic.twitter.com/IENBecBJkc

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 9, 2026

אנחנו ממשיכים להכות בחיזבאללה בעוצמה, בדיוק ובנחישות.

בביירות חיסלנו את עלי יוסף חרשי, מזכירו האישי של מזכ״ל ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה נעים קאסם ואחד האנשים הקרובים אליו ביותר.

במקביל, הלילה תקף צה״ל שורת תשתיות טרור בדרום לבנון: מעברים ששימשו להעברת אלפי אמצעי לחימה, רקטות… pic.twitter.com/tKGuRJKBIE

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) April 9, 2026

“Overnight, the IDF struck a series of terror infrastructures in southern Lebanon: crossings used to transfer thousands of weapons, rockets, and launchers, as well as weapons depots, launchers, and Hezbollah headquarters,” Netanyahu said. 

He said Israeli forces killed Ali Youssef Kharshi, described as the personal secretary to Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem. 

“Our message is clear: Whoever acts against Israeli civilians—will be struck. We will continue to strike Hezbollah wherever required, until we restore full security to the residents of the north,” Netanyahu said. 

Traffic in Strait of Hormuz Remains Disrupted 

Meanwhile, shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained at a virtual standstill Thursday, with only a handful of vessels passing through the strategic waterway, according to ship-tracking data.

Just five bulk carriers transited the strait in the first 24 hours of the ceasefire, according to MarineTraffic and Kpler, while S&P Global Market Intelligence estimated nine vessels crossed across Wednesday and Thursday.

Vessel movements resume in the Strait of Hormuz following ceasefire announcement

Early signs of vessel activity are emerging in the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire announcement, which includes a temporary reopening of the strategic waterway to allow for negotiations.… pic.twitter.com/CSy6PZlCJ4

— MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) April 8, 2026

Iranian media earlier reported that Tehran had closed the strait following Israeli strikes in Lebanon, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said those reports were false.

Fars News Agency: Due to Israeli strikes in #Lebanon, oil tankers will not be permitted to pass through the Strait of #Hormuz.#Iran #Lebanon #Israel #War

— Consulate General of the I.R. Iran in Mumbai (@IRANinMumbai) April 8, 2026

She added that Washington observed increased traffic through the strait on Wednesday and reiterated the president’s “expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately, quickly and safely.”

In comparison, more than 100 ships passed daily through the narrow strait before the war, as it serves as a key route connecting the Persian Gulf to global markets and carries about 20% of the world’s oil and gas shipments.