Shafaq News/ US envoy Amos Hochstein said Tuesday there is “a shot” at achieving a ceasefire deal in Lebanon soon, amid intensifying hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Hochstein conveyed cautious optimism following his meeting with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who presented Israel’s updated position on the ceasefire proposal currently under negotiation.
"There is a shot…I am hopeful we can get it [proposal]," Axios reporter Barak Ravid quoted Hochstein as saying.
The US will now await feedback from Lebanon on the proposed terms. The envoy said.
The Lebanese government, which includes Hezbollah, has repeatedly called for a ceasefire contingent on the full implementation of the 1701 UN Resolution.
The Lebanese government argues that a lasting ceasefire requires all parties to respect the resolution, which mandates that the area south of the Litani River be free of weapons except those controlled by the Lebanese state.
However, Israel’s Security Minister Israel Katz asserted on Tuesday that there would be no ceasefire “or respite” in Lebanon until Israel's security objectives are achieved.
Katz, who took office earlier this month, stated Israel’s refusal to accept any truce that limits its ability to target Hezbollah’s arsenal. “We will continue to strike Hezbollah with full force,” he posted on X.
On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs (Dahyeh) in one of the most intense daytime assaults in recent weeks. Later in the evening, strikes targeted Joun in the Chouf district, killing at least 12 and injuring eight others.
The death toll across multiple locations in Lebanon rose to at least 23 on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, in northern Israel, two people were killed in Nahariya when a residential building sustained a direct hit. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, describing it as a drone strike aimed at a military target east of Nahariya. Residents across northern Israel sought refuge from drone attacks.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, Israel killed at least 3,287, predominantly in the last seven weeks.
The war has forced over a million people in Lebanon from their homes, straining resources and escalating the humanitarian crisis. In northern Israel, continued Hezbollah rocket fire has also led to massive evacuations as residents flee impacted areas.