Israeli ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, has said the country is moving towards agreeing a ceasefire deal with Iran-backed Hezbollah within days.
Herzog who disclosed this on Monday while speaking to Israel’s GLZ radio, said an agreement was close and “it could happen within days … We just need to close the last corners”.
The Israeli government, however, said there are still issues to address.
“We are moving in the direction towards a deal, but there are still some issues to address,” Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said.
Last week, U.S. mediator, Amos Hochstein, declared that significant progress had been made after talks in Beirut, but this has not stopped hostilities from both sides.
Over the weekend, Israel carried out massive airstrikes one of which killed at least 29 people in central Beirut, while Hezbollah launched one of its biggest rocket strikes, firing 250 missiles into Israel.
The Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalated into a full-scale war in September 2024, following an Israeli military offensive targeting Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon.
Israel’s strikes have so far inflicted heavy damage on areas under Hezbollah control, including Beirut’s southern suburbs resulting in the deaths of key Hezbollah leaders, including Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
On Monday, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah’s military headquarters in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut. The Israeli military stated it had issued warnings to residents, leading to the evacuation of the largely deserted area.
Hezbollah, designated a terrorist organisation by the US, has expressed conditional willingness to agree to a truce. The group’s deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, confirmed that the group has provided feedback on a U.S.-proposed ceasefire plan, leaving the decision to Israel.
The conflict has displaced tens of thousands of Israelis and over a million Lebanese. Efforts to broker a ceasefire have centred on the framework of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The resolution calls for Hezbollah to withdraw its fighters at least 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the Israeli border and for the Lebanese army to take control of the region.
The truce is seen as crucial for stabilizing the region and allowing displaced civilians to return home.
While challenges remain, diplomats and officials on both sides express optimism that an agreement is imminent.
Ceasefire Between Israel, Hezbollah Expected Soon, Says Ambassador is first published on The Whistler Newspaper