image sourced from original article at Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar denied reports that Israel and Lebanon are set to hold direct talks in the coming days, saying Beirut must first act against Hezbollah before any discussions can take place. Speaking at the site of an Iranian missile strike in northern Israel, Sa'ar said the Lebanese government and army have not taken meaningful steps to stop attacks launched by Hezbollah from Lebanese territory.
Sa'ar argued that since a November 2024 ceasefire brokered by the United States, Lebanon has failed to dismantle Hezbollah’s military capabilities. He said Israel expects serious action from Beirut to halt cross-border fire, describing this as the most urgent priority. While expressing support for future peace and normalization with Lebanon, Sa'ar maintained that Hezbollah, not the Lebanese state, is the core obstacle, noting that minor border disputes could be resolved.
Separately, Sa'ar denied reports that Israel had informed the United States it was running low on missile interceptors. After claims surfaced that supplies were critically low, the Israel Defense Forces said it is prepared for any scenario but declined to comment on specific munitions levels.
