Lebanon PM hopes for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire ‘in coming hours or days’

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Lebanon PM hopes for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire ‘in coming hours or days’


Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister has said he hopes a ceasefire deal between Hezbollah and Israel will be announced “in the coming hours or days”.

Najib Mikati made the comments after speaking to American envoy Amos Hochstein.

According to Israeli broadcaster Kan, the draft deal was written by the US and would see Israeli forces pull out within a week of the truce starting.

It would reportedly last an initial 60 days and includes Israel‘s “right to act in self-defence” against imminent threats.

Mr Mikati told Lebanon‘s Al Jadeed television the envoy “suggested to me that we could reach an agreement before the end of the month and before November 5th” (the US election date).

“We are doing everything we can and we should remain optimistic that in the coming hours or days, we will have a ceasefire,” said Mr Mikati.

However, the White House urged caution.

National security spokesman Sean Savett said there were “many reports and drafts circulating” which “do not reflect the current state of negotiations”.

Israel and Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the reports.

Image:
Baalbek, in eastern Lebanon, was hit by airstrikes on Wednesday. Pic: Fadi Majdaloun

Israel began a ground offensive in southern Lebanon at the start of October and has also been carrying out airstrikes, including in the capital Beirut.

It says the offensive is designed to allow its citizens to return to homes near the border after rocket fire from Hezbollah over the past year forced them to move.

The Iran-aligned group is designated a terrorist entity by countries including the UK and US.

Its new leader, Naim Kassem, said earlier that it would keep fighting until it’s offered acceptable ceasefire terms.

In his first public comments since replacing Hassan Nasrallah, he said: “If the Israelis decide to stop the aggression, we say that we accept, but according to the conditions that we see as suitable.”

“We will not beg for a ceasefire as we will continue (fighting)… no matter how long it takes.”

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Inside a bombed hospital in Beirut

As Israeli attacks continued on Wednesday, Lebanon’s state-run news agency said airstrikes hit the eastern city of Baalbek.

Nineteen people in two towns in the region were killed, the health ministry said.

It came hours after Israel issued an evacuation warning for the whole city, including its Roman temple complex – a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Read more:
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Hezbollah’s new leader may adopt more cautious approach

Lebanon’s health ministry says more than 2,790 people have been killed and about 12,700 wounded since 8 October last year when Hezbollah began firing rockets and Israel retaliated.

Most of those deaths have been reported in the last five weeks and officials say more than a million people have been displaced.



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