The United States and Israel say Israeli and Lebanese leaders will speak on April 16, but Beirut says it has not been informed of any planned talks.

The president's late-night announcement comes after a meeting between Lebanese and Israeli officials in Washington DC.

Lebanon is not aware of planned talks with Israel, an official source has said, following an announcement by US President Donald Trump that leaders of Israel and Lebanon will speak later.

Israel's security cabinet convened tonight to discuss a possible Lebanon ceasefire, a senior Israeli official said, more than six weeks into a war with Hezbollah that spiralled out of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,000 people and displaced more than one million in Lebanon.

The US administration expresses optimism about a deal with Iran, increasing economic pressure while talks continue through mediation. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, April 16 - U.S. President Donald Trump said Lebanese and Israeli leaders will speak for the first time in decades on Thursday, while Pakistan said peace in Lebanon was essential for talks it is mediating between Washington and Tehran on ending the Iran war. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

US claims it didn’t ask Israel to hold fire at Hezbollah, but would welcome truce as part of Lebanon talks; IDF chief says south Lebanon to be 'kill zone' for terrorists; 5 soldiers wounded in Hezbollah attack

Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least three paramedics, with the health ministry saying Israel attacked rescue teams “three consecutive times”.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s army chief is set to meet with Iranian officials in Tehran in a bid to arrange a second round of negotiations between the US and Iran.

Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon are set to hold "historic" talks, marking the first high-level engagement between the two sides in over three decades. World News | Israel's Security Cabinet Member Says Israeli PM to Talk with Lebanese President: Israel's Army Radio.