Israeli media claims army instructed to reduce strikes in Lebanon

Israeli media claimed Saturday that the army has received instructions to "reduce strikes" in Lebanon, ahead of direct talks between Tel Aviv and Beirut scheduled for Tuesday in Washington, while the army continues intensive airstrikes on Lebanon.

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN quoted an unnamed security source who said the army received instructions to reduce attacks in the coming days, focusing on reducing strikes in Lebanon, before the start of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon.

The move is intended to "build confidence" before the talks, despite Israel's insistence that it does not intend to withdraw from the buffer zone it seized inside Lebanese territory, said the sources.

There has been no confirmation from the Israeli army on the source's claims. It comes amid continued intensive Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, which resulted Saturday in the deaths of 97 victims and injuries to 133.

Israel's Channel 12, meanwhile, quoted unnamed Israeli political sources who said assessments in Tel Aviv indicate that Hezbollah will escalate attacks in the next two days until the start of talks.

The Lebanese presidency announced late Friday that Lebanon and Israel have agreed to hold their first meeting April 14 at the State Department in Washington, DC, with the aim of securing a ceasefire and initiating direct talks.

The expected talks come as Iran and the US are holding rare talks in the Pakistani capital to end a war that started Feb. 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Saturday's meeting in Islamabad comes after US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday a two-week ceasefire with Iran, saying Tehran presented a “workable” 10-point proposal for negotiations.

*Writing by Rasa Evrensel in Istanbul