Israel has expressed support for the decision by United States President Donald Trump to suspend planned military strikes against Iran for two weeks, but insisted that the temporary ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon.
The agreement between Washington and Tehran was reached late Tuesday, just hours before a deadline set by Trump for potential large-scale US military action against Iran. The two sides agreed to a temporary halt in hostilities to allow diplomatic talks to continue.
Under the terms of the arrangement, Iran agreed to guarantee safe maritime passage through the strategic Strait of Hormuz during the two-week pause, easing concerns about disruptions to global oil shipments through the vital waterway.
In a statement on Wednesday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel supports Washington’s move to pause strikes on Iran while negotiations continue.
“Israel supports President Trump’s decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the United States, Israel and countries in the region,” the statement said.
The Israeli government also reiterated its backing for US efforts to ensure that Iran no longer poses what it described as a nuclear, missile and terrorist threat to the region.
However, Israel stressed that the ceasefire arrangement does not apply to the conflict involving Lebanon.
According to the statement, the temporary truce “does not include Lebanon,” contradicting earlier remarks by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been involved in mediating the crisis.
Sharif had earlier suggested that the ceasefire would apply across the region, including Lebanon, implying that Israel would halt its military campaign there.
Lebanon became entangled in the wider conflict after the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah launched rocket attacks into Israel. The strikes prompted Israeli retaliatory operations, including air raids and a ground offensive targeting Hezbollah positions.
Authorities in Lebanon say more than 1,500 people have been killed since the fighting escalated, with thousands displaced by the ongoing violence.
The two-week pause between the United States and Iran is expected to create room for negotiations aimed at ending the broader conflict, with talks scheduled to begin later this week in Pakistan.