Israel and Lebanon will hold talks next week in Washington, a State Department official said on Thursday, as concerns grow that fighting involving Hezbollah could cause the fragile US-Iran truce to unravel.

Israel's heaviest bombardment on Lebanon since Hezbollah entered the Middle East war in early March killed hundreds on Wednesday, shaking the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran less than 48 hours after it came into force.

"We can confirm that the Department will host a meeting next week to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Lebanon," the official said, confirming an earlier account from a source familiar with the diplomatic efforts.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier on Thursday ordered his ministers to seek direct talks with Lebanon, pushing for Iran-backed Hezbollah's disarmament.

But a Lebanese government official said after Netanyahu's announcement that Beirut required a truce before starting any negotiations with Israel, a day after the deadly strikes across Lebanon.

Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes killed at least 303 people and wounded 1,150 in the bombardment on Wednesday, while Hezbollah said it was engaged in close quarters combat against Israeli forces on the ground a day later in southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu's order for direct negotiations with Lebanon's government was focused on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peace, according to a statement from his office, but he offered no immediate respite from the aerial attacks.

Even as Netanyahu spoke, Israel's military issued a new evacuation order for Beirut's southern suburbs.

Brussels, Moscow and Ankara demanded that the US-Iran ceasefire be extended to Lebanon. (AFP)



Edited by Azam Khan