From neglect to urgency: "Black Wednesday" puts Lebanon back on the global agenda

Report by Yazbek Wehbe, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi

A day described as "Black Wednesday" marked a turning point in efforts to address the escalating war in Lebanon, reviving a file that had largely stalled in Washington amid broader regional tensions.

Until recently, the Lebanese file had taken a back seat due to U.S. focus on its confrontation with Iran and the influence of Israeli policy considerations in decision-making circles. 

However, the damage of recent strikes, with high civilian casualties and widespread destruction, has drawn renewed international attention.

LBCI was informed that diplomatic channels have intensified over the past 48 hours between key Arab and European countries, notably Egypt, Qatar, France, and the Vatican, in coordination with U.S. officials, in an effort to halt Israeli military actions.

Sources say images documenting the scale of the strikes and civilian toll, particularly in Beirut, were presented to U.S. President Donald Trump, prompting him to contact Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urge an immediate halt to strikes on densely populated areas.

This reportedly contributed to a pause in planned Israeli strikes that had been expected Thursday afternoon in Beirut's southern suburbs, Ouzai, Bir Hasan, Jnah, and surrounding neighborhoods, which had triggered widespread fear among residents.

According to LBCI sources, the diplomatic push has also been taken up by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is now overseeing the Lebanese file and has proposed a trilateral meeting at the U.S. State Department involving ambassadors to discuss a potential ceasefire.

Ahead of that meeting, direct contact is expected on Friday between Lebanon's ambassador and her Israeli counterpart, focusing on the possibility of achieving a ceasefire and its timing, potentially before next Tuesday. Sources stressed that this contact does not constitute formal negotiations but rather preparatory discussions on the framework, venue, and level of representation should talks proceed.

Lebanese officials continue to insist on securing a ceasefire before entering any negotiations, a position championed by the president and reaffirmed by the Cabinet. 

However, sources suggest that an undeclared ceasefire could emerge as an interim step.

Some diplomatic circles are also exploring whether a model similar to the one that de-escalated tensions between the United States, Iran, and Israel could be applied to the Lebanese front, implementing a ceasefire first, followed by negotiations.

The prospective Lebanese negotiating team is expected to be small, led by Ambassador Simon Karam, and not structured along Lebanon's traditional sectarian lines.

Attention is also turning to Islamabad, where ongoing U.S.-Iran discussions could influence both the trajectory of the war between Lebanon and Israel and the broader negotiation process. The issue of halting the war in Lebanon has reportedly been raised as part of the framework shaping those talks.