WASHINGTON: There has been “significant progress” in efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah, but more work remains before a pact can be sealed, the White House said on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported.
“We have clearly made significant progress; however, we’re not there yet,” a National Security Council spokesperson told Anadolu. “We continue to work to reach a diplomatic resolution to allow civilians on both sides of the Blue Line to safely return to their homes,” he added, referring to the de facto Israeli-Lebanese border.
The White House comment comes after multiple Israeli media reports suggested that a ceasefire deal is expected to be announced within two days.
Israeli public broadcaster KAN, citing an Israeli source, reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to a US-backed ceasefire with Lebanon.
The report followed comments by US envoy Amos Hochstein on Sunday, who threatened to withdraw from mediation efforts aimed at brokering a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon if Tel Aviv does not accept the US proposal, according to Israeli media.
Israel has escalated its airstrikes in Lebanon as part of its year-long conflict with the Lebanese group Hezbollah since the start of the Gaza war last year.
More than 3,600 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with over 15,300 injured and more than a million displaced since October 2023, according to Lebanese health authorities.
This Oct 1, Israel expanded the conflict by launching a ground incursion into southern Lebanon. – BERNAMA-AA
