BEIRUT: Lebanon has announced that Hezbollah has accepted a United States-backed proposal to halt attacks on Israel in exchange for an end to Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, raising hopes for a reduction in hostilities amid ongoing regional tensions.
Read More: US urges Hezbollah to halt attacks amid Lebanon tensions
According to a statement from the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, which was shared by the Lebanese presidency, the arrangement would see Israeli attacks on Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut and a Hezbollah stronghold, cease in return for Hezbollah refraining from launching attacks against Israel.
The development came after US President Donald Trump said he had held productive discussions with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and representatives of Hezbollah. Trump claimed that Israeli troops heading toward Beirut had been turned back and that both sides had agreed to stop shooting.
However, uncertainty remained over the durability of the arrangement. Netanyahu later stated that Israel would continue to strike targets in Beirut if Hezbollah failed to stop attacks on Israeli towns and citizens. Despite this, Trump reiterated his belief that both sides had agreed to de-escalate and expressed hope that the cessation of hostilities would endure.
The announcement comes ahead of a fourth round of US-hosted direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Military delegations from both sides also held security discussions last week.
A Hezbollah lawmaker stated that the group supported a comprehensive ceasefire across all Lebanese territory. Nevertheless, Hezbollah later claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Israeli targets, highlighting the fragile nature of the reported understanding.
Meanwhile, fighting continued across southern Lebanon. Lebanese authorities reported Israeli airstrikes on several locations, including an attack that damaged a hospital in the city of Tyre. The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties and widespread displacement since escalating earlier this year.
Read More: Israeli PM orders deeper incursion into Lebanon
The United Nations has urged all parties to respect ceasefire commitments as international efforts continue to prevent further escalation and restore stability to the region.