Hezbollah Agrees to 'Reciprocal' Ceasefire with Israel Under US Proposal

Hezbollah Signals Readiness for Ceasefire

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has informed the United States that Hezbollah is prepared to commit to a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire with Israel. The message was conveyed on Sunday to U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa.

Ali Hamdan, a senior adviser to Speaker Berri, told Axios that Hezbollah is ready to "totally commit to a comprehensive ceasefire" and that they are prepared to guarantee compliance. Berri is described as one of the most powerful Shia politicians in Lebanon with close ties to Hezbollah, although U.S. and Israeli officials have questioned his ability to ensure the group's adherence to such an agreement.

U.S. Diplomatic Proposals

The Trump administration has put forward proposals aimed at de-escalation. One proposal is for a partial ceasefire, which would require Hezbollah to cease its strikes on northern Israel in exchange for Israel agreeing not to strike Beirut.

Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has engaged in diplomatic negotiations with both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to a U.S. official, Rubio has proposed a plan for "gradual de-escalation," with the first step requiring the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group to stop all attacks.

Israeli Response and Military Operations

Despite the ceasefire signals from Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to strike Beirut. Netanyahu has stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will continue their operations in southern Lebanon.

Israeli officials have expressed concern regarding the potential for diplomatic discussions between the U.S. and Israel to result in the cancellation of a planned strike in Dahiyeh. These tensions follow a period of intense fighting; health officials reported that Israeli airstrikes killed at least 31 people in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, marking one of the deadliest attacks since a previous ceasefire took effect in April.

Regional Tensions and Iranian Reaction

The diplomatic efforts occur against a backdrop of heightened regional volatility. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Monday that Iran's negotiating team is suspending its exchange of messages with the U.S. through mediators. This suspension is a protest against Israeli military actions in Lebanon.

Concurrent with these developments, the U.S. and Iran have engaged in an exchange of strikes. The Guardian reports that these strikes reflect the fragility of the current security environment, noting that repeated violations have occurred even as American and Iranian officials have interacted.