Hezbollah made wrong choices, Israeli response exceeded self-defense: Meloni to El-Sisi

CAIRO – 10 April 2026: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held talks on Friday on the recent US-Iran ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

During a phone conversation with El-Sisi, Meloni stated that Hezbollah made the wrong choices, while the Israeli response has exceeded the bounds of legitimate self-defense, a statement by the Presidency said.

Meloni said Italy looks forward to the launch of direct negotiations leading to a ceasefire in Lebanon.

During the call, the two leaders affirmed the necessity to preserve stability in the Middle East, the statement read.

Israel has launched intensified airstrikes on densely populated areas across Lebanon since early on Wednesday, killing hundreds, after the US and Iran announced a ceasefire that halted more than five weeks of war.

Iran and Pakistan have said the situation in Lebanon is a part of the truce , while the US and Israel maintain that it falls outside the scope of the agreement.

In response to Israeli strikes, Hezbollah has resumed missile attacks on Israel.