The US said an international call for a ceasefire was co-ordinated with Israel, despite its apparent rejection by Israeli officials.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on X that the first meetings would be in Riyadh and Brussels. After the eruption of the Gaza war last October between Israel and Hamas that rules Gaza, Saudi Arabia put on ice US-backed plans for the kingdom to normalise ties with Israel,

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will continue exploring ceasefire proposals for Lebanon, despite rejecting global calls for an immediate truce. The conflict with Hezbollah has resulted in significant casualties and displacement on both sides.

Israel carried out strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, which it said killed a Hezbollah commander, as the US and allies call for a 21-day ceasefire. Follow for live news updates.

Israel will continue to discuss ceasefire proposals for Lebanon in the days ahead, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, as Washington warned that further escalation would only make it harder for civilians on both sides to return home.

Israeli airstrikes have claimed over 630 lives in Lebanon since a further 72 people are reported by the nation's Health Ministry to have been killed in attacks on Wednesday, resulting in emergency talks at this week's U.N. General Assembly in New York.

U.S. officials said Netanyahu and his close confidants were directly involved in the formulation of the temporary ceasefire.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met his Lebanese counterpart at the United Nations and discussed the importance of an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated solution in the conflict with Israel, his office said on Friday.

The comments came after Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday there would be no ceasefire in the north, where Israeli jets have been carrying out the heaviest bomb