A ceasefire deal to end the ongoing conflict between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia is near completion but still not finalized, according to three senior Biden administration officials. One official mentioned that a few issues remain, and the deal could take a couple of days to complete. White House national security adviser John Kirby described the discussions as “productive,” but cautioned that nothing is final yet.
Heavy strikes continued over the weekend, with Israeli airstrikes killing at least 20 people in Beirut, and Hezbollah firing over 200 rockets into Israel, causing extensive damage. These clashes are part of months of fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has supported Hamas after its October 7 attack on Israel.
Danny Danon, Israel’s UN ambassador, confirmed that cease-fire talks are progressing, though not finalized. This potential cease-fire would apply only to Lebanon and would not affect the situation in Gaza or the hostages held by Hamas. Families of the hostages have urged that any deal should include their release, stressing that the northern front and the hostages’ fate are inseparable.
Israeli air and ground attacks have killed over 3,000 people in Lebanon and displaced more than a million, with strikes also targeting parts of Syria. Meanwhile, talks followed heightened fears of a regional escalation after Israel’s attack on Iran, though Iran downplayed the impact of the strike.
Also read: Israeli Strikes Intensify on Beirut’s Southern Suburbs Amid Ceasefire Talks
