German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cease hostilities in Lebanon, where Israel says it is striking Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again said there is no ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon after he instructed his cabinet to begin direct negotiations.

The Lebanese Cabinet has approved an army plan to ensure that all weapons in the country remain under state control, while keeping the plan’s details confidential. Information Minister Paul Marcos said the army will submit monthly progress reports, implementing the strategy within its available resources.

On Wednesday evening, the White House issued a joint statement , endorsed by allies in Europe and Asia as well as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, calling for an immediate 21-day cease-fire across the Israel-Lebanon border, seeking to buy time for diplomacy to avert a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, News.Az reports citing Foreign Policy .