U.S. officials say a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon could be secured within days. Israeli officials will vote on the deal, set to include the withdrawal of both Hezbollah and Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
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00:00Israeli strikes intensify on Lebanon's southern Beirut suburbs, despite a diplomatic breakthrough
00:09that could see a ceasefire in place within 36 hours.
00:13That's according to U.S. State Department spokesperson John Kirby, who revealed Israel
00:18and armed group Hezbollah are on the cusp of securing a deal, the development confirmed
00:24by Israel's U.N. ambassador.
00:26So we are moving forward on this front, as I said many times, you know, our goal was
00:31very clear, which is to push Hezbollah north of the Litani River.
00:36We haven't finalized it, but we are moving forward.
00:40Fighting between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel erupted in October 2023, as the group
00:45stood in solidarity with Palestinians in Hamas amid Israel's war in Gaza.
00:51The U.S. has been pushing for a diplomatic end to the conflict since it drastically escalated
00:56two months ago, and Israeli forces began a ground offensive in Lebanon.
01:01At least 3,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in the country.
01:05Sources from Lebanon say U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron
01:10involved in negotiations are expected to announce the truce soon, but the U.S. State Department
01:16cautioned a deal is not set in stone.
01:19Typically when we say we're closed, we have the caveat that nothing is final until everything
01:24is final and that it takes the parties actually saying yes and getting there.
01:28I think you've also heard the Secretary say that oftentimes the very last stages of an
01:34agreement are the most difficult because the hardest issues are left to the end.
01:39That of course is true.
01:40The Israeli cabinet is expected to meet to discuss the proposed 60-day truce and vote
01:45on a deal that includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and an
01:50end to the Hezbollah presence in the area.
01:53The U.S. hopes this can form the basis of a lasting ceasefire.
01:57Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly signaled his approval, but
02:02the country's foreign minister said the agreement would hinge on U.N. peacekeeping
02:06forces remaining in the region to reduce the threat of Hezbollah.
02:10Regarding Lebanon, the test of every agreement will be one, not in words, not in phrases,
02:20but only one, in pressure, at two main points.
02:26One, to prevent Hezbollah from withdrawing south of the Litani, the second, to prevent
02:34Hezbollah from rebuilding its strength and re-engaging in all of Lebanon.
02:42And if Hezbollah does return to southern Lebanon, Israel is insisting the deal allow them to
02:46take whatever military action they see necessary.
02:51With details still being finalised, Israel and Hezbollah are continuing their armed exchange,
02:56raising fears that one misstep could upend the talks and put an end to the diplomatic
03:02push for peace.
03:04James Lynn and Rosie Greninger for Taiwan Plus.