U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are reportedly set to announce a ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, according to four senior Lebanese sources on Monday.
While the White House confirmed that an agreement was “close,” national security spokesperson John Kirby added, “nothing is done until everything is done.”
Meanwhile, the French presidency indicated that discussions on the ceasefire had made significant progress.
In Israel, a senior official confirmed that the Israeli cabinet is set to meet on Tuesday to approve the truce.
The diplomatic developments came amid continued heavy Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah-controlled areas in Beirut, as Israel pressed on with its offensive that began in September.
The escalation followed a year of border hostilities between the two sides.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office refrained from commenting on the deal, but the senior Israeli official confirmed that the cabinet meeting would be to approve the ceasefire text.
There are still outstanding issues, particularly regarding Israel’s ability to strike southern Lebanon, a point of contention that Lebanon has previously opposed.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that while the gaps between the parties have narrowed, there are still critical steps to be taken before an agreement is finalized.
“The hardest issues are often left to the end,” he noted, emphasizing the urgency of securing a resolution.
The ongoing violence, which intensified in October 2023 alongside Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, has caused significant loss of life.
On Monday, Israeli airstrikes killed 31 people and injured 62 in Lebanon, while Hezbollah launched a salvo of 250 rockets into Israel.
In Beirut, Lebanese Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab confirmed that significant progress had been made, and that unless Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu reversed course, the U.S.-proposed ceasefire could begin soon.
The proposal includes an Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the deployment of Lebanese army troops to the border region, traditionally a Hezbollah stronghold.
The ceasefire deal would be monitored by a five-nation committee, including France and chaired by the U.S. Despite the diplomatic headway, military operations continue, with Israel conducting airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds, while Hezbollah responds with rocket fire.
The Biden administration, nearing the end of its term, has placed considerable focus on diplomacy to end the conflict in Lebanon, even as negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza remain stalled.
U.S. Middle East envoy Brett McGurk is set to visit Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss leveraging the Lebanon ceasefire as a potential catalyst for broader peace efforts, including in Gaza.
The proposed ceasefire, based on U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, aims to ensure Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the border region and allow Lebanese forces to secure the area.
Both sides have previously accused each other of violating the terms of the resolution, and Israel has insisted that any new ceasefire must allow for strikes against any Hezbollah fighters or weapons remaining south of the Litani River.
As Israel moves closer to an agreement, internal divisions within Netanyahu’s government are apparent, with far-right ministers like Itamar Ben-Gvir opposing the ceasefire and calling for continued military action.
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