BEIRUT: Lebanese and Israeli military delegations got security talks at the Pentagon underway on Friday, during which Beirut will demand Israel halt its attacks, which have intensified in recent days. The talks come as the US and Hezbollah’s backer Iran were negotiating, with Tehran insists the fighting in Lebanon must be included in any agreement ending the Middle East war. Also on Friday, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for seven southern Lebanese towns, two of them around 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Israel.

The intensification comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion in the Israeli military’s attacks in Lebanon.

BEIRUT: A meeting between Lebanese and Israeli military delegations, under US sponsorship, is set to take place at the Pentagon on Friday to launch a new round of security talks…