Lebanon studying US ceasefire plan

Ceasefire efforts spearheaded by the US and France have far failed to halt hostilities

BEIRUT:

The Lebanese government is reviewing a US truce proposal in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, Lebanese officials told AFP on Friday, nearly two months since cross-border clashes escalated into a full-blown war.

Israel has intensified its bombing of mainly Hezbollah targets in Lebanon since September 23 and later sent in ground troops, nearly a year into limited exchanges of fire initiated by the group in support of Palestinian ally Hamas after its October 7, 2023 attack sparked the Gaza war.

Ceasefire efforts spearheaded by the United States and France have so far failed to halt the hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese group, which like Hamas is backed by Iran.

But two Lebanese government officials said a new proposal was on the table.

Requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, one top official said US Ambassador Lisa Johnson discussed the plan on Thursday with Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Hezbollah-allied parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who has been involved in mediation efforts on behalf of the group.