# Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has ordered his cabinet to open direct talks with Lebanon. He says the focus will be on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between the two countries. This comes as the Israeli Defence Force launched its biggest attack on Lebanon on Wednesday, killing over 200 people. The IDF hit more than 100 of what it called Hezbollah command centres and military sites. Netanyahu added that he welcomed a call by the Lebanese prime minister, Nawaf Salam, to demilitarise Beirut.
Netanyahu has directed his cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon