Photo: Reuters file
Israel and Lebanon have reached a consensus on the conditions for a deal to resolve the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, according to a report by Axios on Monday, which cited an unnamed senior US official. The Israeli government announced on Monday that it was progressing towards a ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah, although some unresolved matters remain. Lebanese officials expressed cautious optimism but questioned the reliability of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel's ambassador to the United States was quoted as stating that an agreement could be reached within days. CNN, citing a source, reported that Netanyahu had given his approval to the emerging deal "in principle," but Israel still harbors reservations about certain details.
The escalation of hostilities has continued alongside the diplomatic efforts: Over the weekend, Israel conducted powerful airstrikes, one of which resulted in the death of at least 29 people in central Beirut. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Hezbollah launched one of its largest rocket salvos to date on Sunday, firing 250 missiles. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated into full-scale war in September when Israel initiated an offensive, conducting extensive airstrikes across wide areas of Lebanon and deploying troops to the south. Israel has significantly weakened Hezbollah, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders, and causing extensive damage in areas of Lebanon where the group holds influence. Diplomatic efforts have centered on reinstating a ceasefire based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which concluded the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war. This resolution mandates Hezbollah to withdraw its fighters to a distance of approximately 30 km (19 miles) from the Israeli border.
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