Lebanon, Hezbollah agree to U.S. ceasefire proposal amid intense hostilities
Lebanon and Hezbollah have agreed in principle to a U.S.-proposed ceasefire to end ongoing hostilities with Israel, a senior Lebanese official revealed on Monday.
The agreement, described as the most serious effort yet to halt the fighting, includes Lebanon’s written response to the U.S. ambassador and comments affirming strict adherence to United Nations Resolution 1701.
Ali Hassan Khalil, an aide to Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, confirmed Hezbollah’s endorsement of Berri as the negotiator for the ceasefire as reported by Reuters news agency.
Khalil emphasized that the success of the proposal now hinges on Israel’s willingness to resolve the conflict. If Israel does not want a solution, “it could make 100 problems,” he cautioned.
While U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein has led several rounds of negotiations over the past year without success, there is renewed hope following Lebanon’s formal response.
Hochstein is expected to arrive in Beirut soon to further the discussions. A diplomat familiar with the talks, however, warned that unresolved details could still delay a final agreement.
Since late September, Israeli forces have escalated operations against Hezbollah, killing its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and targeting vast areas of Lebanon with airstrikes. Concurrently, Hezbollah strikes have caused significant casualties in northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Lebanese authorities report that 3,481 people have died in Lebanon since the conflict began, with the majority of casualties occurring after Israel’s intensified campaign in September. Israeli sources state that 43 civilians and 73 soldiers have died in attacks and combat in northern Israel and southern Lebanon.
Despite these developments, Lebanese Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram, quoting Speaker Berri, warned against premature optimism, emphasizing that while the atmosphere seemed positive, significant hurdles remain. Israel has not yet provided an official response to Lebanon’s comments on the ceasefire initiative.
