Saar also suggested that if these terms were met, Israel would be ready to negotiate a ceasefire and potentially pull back its forces in exchange for Hezbollah’s withdrawal
News Desk
BEIRUT: Israeli officials reported progress in ongoing discussions regarding a potential ceasefire in Lebanon, with the possibility that Russia could play a role in preventing Hezbollah from rearming via Syria. This comes after weeks of intense conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has escalated since late September, with Israeli forces targeting Hezbollah strongholds across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed cautious optimism during a press conference in Jerusalem, acknowledging that diplomatic efforts, particularly between Israel and the United States, have been making headway. He outlined that Israel’s primary condition for agreeing to a ceasefire would be ensuring that Hezbollah would not be able to rearm and that its forces would be kept well away from the Israeli border, particularly north of the Litani River, which lies roughly 30 kilometers from the border.
Saar also suggested that if these terms were met, Israel would be ready to negotiate a ceasefire and potentially pull back its forces in exchange for Hezbollah’s withdrawal. However, while Israel showed optimism, Hezbollah’s response was more cautious. A spokesperson for the group, Mohammad Afif, acknowledged the diplomatic efforts underway but clarified that neither Hezbollah nor the Lebanese government had yet received any concrete proposals for a ceasefire.
Afif noted that ongoing discussions were still in the early stages, with multiple international players— including Washington, Moscow, and Tehran—testing ideas and gauging reactions, but nothing official had been proposed as of yet. Reports from Israeli media outlets, such as Israel Hayom and Yedioth Ahronoth, highlighted that diplomatic talks are advancing, with both Israel and Lebanon reportedly exchanging ceasefire drafts via U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein.
The proposed agreement would involve Hezbollah pulling back its forces north of the Litani River, effectively barring its military presence near the Israeli border, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would return to the international border. The situation remains tense, as Hezbollah’s military presence in southern Lebanon has been a key factor in the ongoing hostilities, and any ceasefire would require careful negotiation to ensure that the terms are enforceable and satisfactory to both sides.
