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November 26, 2024 | 02:13 pm
TEMPO.CO, Beirut - U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to announce a ceasefire in Lebanon between the armed group Hezbollah and Israel imminently, four senior Lebanese sources said on Monday, November 25, 2024.
In Washington, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said, "We're close" but "nothing is done until everything is done."
The French presidency said discussions on a ceasefire had made significant progress. In Jerusalem, a senior Israeli official said Israel's cabinet would meet on Tuesday to approve a truce deal with Hezbollah.
Heavy Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon follow the signs of a diplomatic breakthrough.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office declined to comment on reports that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to the text of a deal. But the senior Israeli official told Reuters that Tuesday's cabinet meeting was intended to approve the text.
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said Israel would maintain the ability to strike southern Lebanon under any agreement. Lebanon has previously objected to wording that would grant Israel such a right.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said gaps between the two parties have narrowed significantly but there are still steps they need to take to reach an agreement.
"Oftentimes the very last stages of an agreement are the most difficult because the hardest issues are left to the end," he said. "We are pushing as hard as we can."
In Beirut, Elias Bou Saab, Lebanon's deputy parliament speaker, told Reuters there were "no serious obstacles" left to start implementing a U.S.-proposed ceasefire with Israel, "unless Netanyahu changes his mind."
He said the proposal would entail an Israeli military withdrawal from south Lebanon and regular Lebanese army troops deploying in the border region, long a Hezbollah stronghold, within 60 days.
A sticking point over who would monitor compliance with the ceasefire was resolved in the last 24 hours with an agreement to set up a five-country committee, including France and chaired by the United States, he said.
STRIKES ON BEIRUT
Despite diplomatic progress, hostilities have intensified. Over the weekend, Israel carried out powerful airstrikes, one of which killed at least 29 people in central Beirut, while Hezbollah unleashed one of its biggest rocket salvoes yet on Sunday, firing 250 missiles into Israel.
In Beirut, Israeli airstrikes leveled more of the southern suburbs on Monday, sending clouds of debris billowing over the Lebanese capital.
Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli attacks killed 31 people and wounded 62 across the country on Monday. Over the past year, more than 3,750 people have been killed and over one million have been displaced from their homes, according to the ministry.
REUTERS
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