The US official responsible for mediating a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon is scheduled to visit Beirut on Tuesday, according to sources in Lebanon. Beirut is expected to respond to a U.S. truce proposal.
The U.S.-led ceasefire efforts have regained attention as Israel intensifies its offensive. Israeli strikes in two Beirut neighborhoods on Sunday resulted in six deaths, including at least one senior Hezbollah official. This marks the first time in a month that Israel has targeted central areas of the capital.
The latest U.S. truce proposal was delivered last week to Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who has been endorsed by Hezbollah for negotiations. White House envoy Amos Hochstein is expected in Beirut on Tuesday for ceasefire talks, according to a Lebanese political source.
World powers emphasize that any ceasefire in Lebanon must be based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. The resolution requires Hezbollah to relocate weapons and fighters north of the Litani river, approximately 20km (30 miles) north of the border.
Diplomatic efforts have been complicated by Israel's demand for the freedom to act if Hezbollah breaches any agreement, a condition Lebanon has rejected. Israel launched its offensive after nearly a year of cross-border hostilities with Hezbollah, aiming to secure the return of tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated from the north due to rocket fire from Hezbollah.
The Israeli campaign has displaced over 1 million people in Lebanon. Israel has inflicted significant damage on Hezbollah, utilizing airstrikes to target wide areas of Lebanon and deploying ground forces into the south.
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