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  "path": "/partner/lebanon-us-ambassador-pressure-israel",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-11T13:27:24.000Z",
  "site": "https://nukta.com",
  "tags": [
    "ongoing airstrikes on Lebanon",
    "Israeli strikes",
    "Hezbollah"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\n\nLebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam separately urged U.S. Ambassador Michel Issa on Monday to pressure Israel to stop its ongoing airstrikes on Lebanon. The appeal came despite a ceasefire in place since April 17 between Israel and Lebanon. Lebanese authorities also raised the overall death toll from Israeli strikes since March 2 to 2,869 people, including dozens killed after the truce took effect.\n\n#### Why is Lebanon urging the U.S. ambassador to pressure Israel?\n\nLebanon is pressing Washington to act as a security guarantor after Israel continued striking Lebanese territory in violation of the April 17 ceasefire. Prime Minister Salam asked Ambassador Issa to \"exert pressure on Israel to stop the ongoing attacks and violations, in order to consolidate the ceasefire.\" The meetings were held in preparation for a third round of direct Lebanon-Israel talks scheduled in Washington on Thursday and Friday.\n\n#### How severe are the Israeli strikes on Lebanon?\n\nThe weekend before the meeting saw some of the most intense Israeli strikes since the truce, reaching as close as 20 kilometers from Beirut. On Monday, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for nine Lebanese towns: seven in the south and two in the West Bekaa region. _AFP_ correspondents on the ground witnessed strikes across the south, with large plumes of smoke rising from targeted locations.\n\nIsrael also confirmed Monday that one of its soldiers had died in fighting near the Lebanese border, bringing its total losses to 18 personnel and a civilian contractor since the war began.\n\n#### What is the current state of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon?\n\nIsrael and Iran-backed Hezbollah have continued trading fire in southern Lebanon despite the April 17 ceasefire. Israeli troops are operating inside a self-declared \"yellow line\" running roughly 10 kilometers north of Lebanon's border. Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the wider Middle East war on March 2 when it launched rockets at Israel following the killing of Iran's supreme leader in U.S.-Israeli strikes, prompting an Israeli airstrike campaign and ground invasion.\n\n#### What did Lebanon's prime minister say about Israeli occupation?\n\nIn an interview with Saudi Arabia's Al Arabiya channel on Sunday, Salam said Lebanon is \"facing the occupation of 68 Lebanese villages as a result of this war that was imposed on us.\" His remarks underlined Beirut's position ahead of the Washington talks, where Lebanese and Israeli representatives are due to meet for the third time. The U.S. embassy in Beirut has urged direct engagement between the two sides, describing it as the start of a potential \"national revival.\"",
  "title": "Lebanon urges US ambassador to pressure Israel as strikes pound country despite ceasefire"
}