US Envoy Claims Efforts to End Israel-Hezbollah War Within Reach

Lebanese Refugees/screenshot via UN News

JAKARTA - A senior US mediator said there is a real chance to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. This indicates progress in Washington's efforts to reach a ceasefire.

White House envoy Amos Hochstein spoke in Beirut, talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a day after the Lebanese government and Iran-backed Hezbollah agreed to a US ceasefire proposal, with some comments on its contents.

"I came back because we have a real chance to end this conflict," Hochstein said at a news conference after the meeting, as reported by Reuters, Tuesday, November 19.

"Now it's in our hands. I hope the next few days will produce a firm decision," he added.

Hochstein's mission marks the latest effort by the U.S. administration to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon as diplomacy to end the war in Gaza appears to be stalled.

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said Tuesday there were talks about a deal with Lebanon. But he reiterated that Israel would agree only if all its demands were met, including pushing Hezbollah away from the border.

The diplomatic efforts coincide with an escalating war, with Israel stepping up its attacks on the Hezbollah-held southern suburbs of Beirut and carrying out three strikes on the capital itself in the past three days.

The conflict escalated into all-out war in September when Israel went on the offensive, pounding large areas of Lebanon with airstrikes, sending troops into the south and killing many Hezbollah commanders including leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Hochstein has tried to broker a ceasefire several times over the past year.

Hezbollah has backed its longtime ally, Berri, as Lebanon’s negotiator.

Hochstein flew to Beirut after Lebanon delivered its written response to the US ceasefire proposal that Berri received last week from the US ambassador.