Jerusalem and Beirut are edging closer to a potential ceasefire, as Israel’s security cabinet prepares to convene on Tuesday night to discuss halting hostilities with Lebanon. Despite ongoing military operations in both Lebanon and Gaza, there is growing international pressure to end the conflict.
An anonymous Israeli official told AFP that the security cabinet “will decide on Tuesday evening on the ceasefire deal,” signaling a possible de-escalation after weeks of intense fighting.
The United States, European Union, and the United Nations have all intensified efforts to broker a truce. John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, remarked on Monday that negotiations are “going in a very positive direction,” though he withheld specific details.
Echoing this optimism, Lebanon’s Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab indicated that a ceasefire with Israel is imminent following a Parliament Bureau meeting. “We are approaching the ceasefire moment. This week or in the next 10 days, there will be a decisive position,” Bou Saab told the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Amid these diplomatic developments, fierce fighting continues on the ground. Lebanese official media reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted southern Beirut on Monday, with health authorities confirming at least 36 fatalities across the country, predominantly in the south.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, the Israeli military announced that it had struck “approximately 25 terror targets” associated with Hezbollah throughout Lebanon. The strikes hit areas including Nabatiyeh, Baalbek, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Beirut, extending to the city’s outskirts.
The NNA reported a fourth series of Israeli raids on Monday evening in southern Beirut, stating that “enemy warplanes launched strikes on Haret Hreik and Shiyah districts.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon expressed deep concern over recent deadly strikes on Lebanese soldiers, which Beirut has attributed to Israel. The mission emphasized the urgency of de-escalation to prevent further loss of life.
The ongoing conflict has drawn international attention, with calls for restraint and a swift resolution. As the Israeli cabinet prepares to deliberate on the ceasefire proposal, millions in the region and around the world await a hopeful end to hostilities.
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Israel to decide Tuesday on Lebanon ceasefire amid fierce fighting
cgtn.com
