Lebanon and Hezbollah have tentatively agreed to a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire with Israel. Ali Hassan Khalil, an aide to Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, confirmed the development to Reuters on Monday, describing the negotiations as the most serious attempt to date.
Khalil reportedly said Lebanon submitted its written response to U.S. ambassador Dorothy Shea on Monday. “All the comments that we presented affirm the precise adherence to (U.N.) Resolution 1701 with all its provisions,” he said. Khalil added that White House envoy Amos Hochstein is traveling to Beirut to advance the discussions.
The U.S.-mediated proposal seeks to address escalating tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border, where recent clashes have intensified. The proposal incorporates provisions under U.N. Resolution 1701, which established terms for a ceasefire following the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Resolution 1701 prohibits Hezbollah from maintaining an armed presence in the region between the Israeli-Lebanese border and the Litani River, located approximately 30 kilometers to the north.
Hezbollah, a heavily armed faction supported by Iran, has earlier endorsed Berri’s leadership in negotiating the ceasefire terms.Â
Khalil characterized the atmosphere of the recent talks as positive but stressed that the success of the initiative depends on Israel’s willingness to proceed.
The Israeli government has not issued a formal response to Lebanon’s agreement to the proposal. However, both sides continue to maintain military postures along the border, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation if negotiations falter.
