“The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023, is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation,” said the statement, citing the date Hezbollah began launching attacks on northern Israeli communities and military posts following its ally Hamas’s October 7 massacres in southern Israel.
Israel’s envoy to the UN welcomed the call and said Israel prefers a diplomatic solution. However, he warned that Israel would not hesitate to use force if the deal did not meet the conditions that would allow Israeli residents to securely return to their homes.
A US official said a decision from Israel, and Lebanon, which was liaising with Hezbollah, on the ceasefire could come “within hours.”
Fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has escalated sharply over the past week to the brink of an all-out war, stoking fears the conflict could spread across the Middle East. READ MORE