Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that Israel must "fully implement" the ceasefire between the two countries before beginning direct negotiations, adding that Beirut was waiting for Washington to set a date for the talks, AFP reported. Israel "must first fully implement the ceasefire in order to move on to negotiations... Israeli attacks cannot continue as they are," Aoun said in a statement shared by the presidency. "We are now waiting for the United States to set a date to begin direct negotiations" with Israel. Despite the ceasefire, Israel and Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have both engaged in fighting, trading blame over violations of the fragile truce.
