Qatar says 'working with our partners to make sure there is an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon'

Meanwhile, Qatar, a mediator in the Gaza war, said on Thursday there was no direct link between talks for a truce in Gaza and an international push for an immediate ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Cross-border violence between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified in recent days after repeated failures to reach a truce between Israel and Hamas militants following during almost a year of fighting in Gaza.

Months of behind-the-scenes negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States could not halt the war, which began on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, apart from a one-week truce beginning in late November.

Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Ansari said Qatar was "working with their partners" to ensure "an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon" and "work their way back from the current escalation".