Israeli officials have reportedly flown to Paris in secrecy to meet with representatives of the United States ahead of scheduled talks between Washington and Tehran. According to a report by Walla on Friday, citing Israeli sources, Mossad Director David (Dedi) Barnea and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer traveled to France to meet with US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

The purpose of the meeting is to influence the American stance in the upcoming negotiations with Iran. The second round of Washington-Tehran talks is set to take place tomorrow, and Israel is looking to ensure its strategic concerns are addressed, especially regarding regional security and Iran’s influence.

While diplomatic efforts continue in Europe, military operations escalated in Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it carried out a drone strike in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon on Friday, killing Hezbollah operative Muhammad Ja’far Manoah Assad Abdullah. The IDF claimed that Abdullah had been involved in activities targeting Israel and played a key role in deploying Hezbollah’s communications infrastructure across Lebanon, especially in the Litani region.

According to the IDF, Abdullah’s actions constituted a breach of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah. The strike marks a significant development in the ongoing tension between the two sides, as cross-border hostilities have increased in recent months.

In response, senior Hezbollah figure Wafic Safa stated in an interview with the group’s Al-Nur radio station that Hezbollah has no intention of surrendering its weapons to the Lebanese Armed Forces. He emphasized that any such discussions are off the table until Israel fully withdraws from southern Lebanon.

The developments highlight the fragile security landscape in the region, where diplomacy and military action continue to intersect. With Israeli officials seeking influence in American negotiations and Hezbollah resisting disarmament, the coming days may prove pivotal in shaping the region’s trajectory.