Under Israeli bombardment, Lebanon urges Trump to intervene, calls for ‘immediate’ talks with Israel | CNN

The prime minister of Lebanon made an urgent appeal Thursday to President Donald Trump to intervene in the cause of peace, calling for an immediate ceasefire and direct talks with Israel. Nawaf Salam told CNN in an exclusive interview that he sought a ceasefire “yesterday, not tomorrow,” as the death toll from Israel’s onslaught against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah reached 1,000. More than 100 of the dead are children, according to Lebanese officials. Asked what his message for Trump would be, Salam said: “To help put an end to the Lebanese conflict. I would like to reaffirm to President Trump our readiness to enter into immediate negotiations.” He called the US a “strategic partner” and said Trump “more than anyone else” could “play a decisive role” in ending the war. “So we call on a greater engagement of the US. I mean direct contact. We are ready for negotiations with Israel,” the prime minister said. The prospect of a negotiated end to the conflict in Lebanon, which began 17 days ago when Hezbollah fired projectiles into Israel to avenge the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has dissipated over the past 48 hours as Israel’s mili