US News reports that Washington is optimistic about a ceasefire in Lebanon, stating it is ‘close’
Senior US officials have stated that a ceasefire deal is expected to be implemented “in the coming hours” along the Israel-Lebanon border.
During a late-night briefing with reporters, the US administration officials revealed that intensive diplomatic efforts had brought the two sides close to an agreement.
According to one official, “The ceasefire will last for 21 days along the blue line. The parties will use this time to negotiate towards a potential resolution of the conflict that began when Hezbollah launched an attack on 8 October. The goal is to reach a comprehensive agreement along the blue line to allow residents to return to their homes in both Lebanon and Israel.”
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The official stressed that this ceasefire proposal is specific to the northern border and does not include Gaza, where Israel continues its military offensive against Hamas. However, a pause in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could create an opportunity for progress in Gaza.
“This provides some time and space to work towards a resolution in Gaza, similar to the hostage deal discussions we’ve had,” said the US official.
“Despite recent events on the battlefield, we believe the time is ripe to achieve a diplomatic solution; the moment is now.”
The optimistic outlook for a ceasefire “in the coming hours” follows a joint statement from several countries calling for an immediate 21-day ceasefire.
The statement emphasized the need for a diplomatic settlement to ensure the safe return of civilians to their homes on both sides of the border, stating that “diplomacy cannot succeed amidst escalating conflict.”
It remains uncertain whether Israel or Hezbollah will agree to the ceasefire. Israel has expressed its commitment to eliminating the threat from southern Lebanon.
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When asked about this, the US official stated, “We have been in discussions with the parties… they are familiar with the terms, and we expect the agreement to be reached in the coming hours.”
Hezbollah, a non-state group aligned with Iran, has been launching attacks on Israel from Lebanon in support of Hamas in Gaza.
Israel’s actions against Hezbollah, including assassinations and last week’s attacks, have escalated tensions, bringing the region closer to all-out war.
Even if Israel agrees to pause its military operations, there is no guarantee that Hezbollah will do the same. Hezbollah’s leader Hasan Nasrallah has vowed to continue attacks until Israel stops targeting Gaza.
The US and other diplomats have been engaging with the official Lebanese government instead of directly negotiating with Hezbollah, which is considered a terrorist organization.
“We negotiate with the recognized government of Lebanon, which speaks on behalf of the country and the incidents on that side of the border,” the US official explained.
“When it comes to negotiations with non-state entities in Lebanon, we expect them to understand their responsibility to represent the country as a whole,” the US official added.
“Therefore, once the governments of Lebanon and Israel accept the terms, the ceasefire will be implemented and respected on both sides.”
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The potential progress comes after a day of conflicting reports from Israel indicating a possible invasion of southern Lebanon by Israeli ground troops.
A spokesperson from the US Department of Defense later clarified that there was no indication of an imminent Israeli operation.
