Lebanon said on Friday (Nov 15) that it was studying a United States (US) truce proposal for the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-aligned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire for over a year in parallel with the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Speaking to the news agency AFP, a Lebanese government official said US Ambassador Lisa Johnson discussed with senior Lebanese officials on Thursday a 13-point proposal.
The official said that the proposal included a 60-day truce, during which Lebanon would redeploy troops to the border. The official also said that Israel was yet to respond to the plan.
What has Israel demanded for a truce deal?
Israel has put forward three requirements for the ceasefire agreement: Hezbollah needs to withdraw to the area north of the Litani River; the southern area of Lebanon needs to be stationed by the Lebanese Armed Forces; and Hezbollah is not allowed to obtain weapons through Syria.
If Hezbollah does not agree to the aforementioned three requirements and launches attacks against Israel, the Israeli army will continue and even expand its military operations.
Death toll in Israel-Hezbollah conflict climbs to over 3,440
AFP reported on Saturday that the death toll in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict has climbed to more than 3,440 and thousands of others have been injured.
On Friday, heavy Israeli strikes hit south Beirut after the Israeli military issued an evacuation call in the region.
Repeated Israeli air strikes on south Beirut have led to a mass exodus of civilians from the Hezbollah stronghold, although some return during the day to check on their homes and businesses.
A building in Beirut’s southern suburbs collapsed in a gigantic cloud of smoke and dust, as two strikes attributed to Israel hit the Hezbollah bastion on Friday.
(With inputs from agencies)
