Hezbollah’s newly appointed leader mentioned that the Lebanese group would consider a ceasefire under specific conditions amidst ongoing Israeli attacks. The statement was made as Israel intensified its bombardment of Hezbollah strongholds, including the city of Baalbek. The leader, Naim Qassem, who took over after the previous leader’s assassination, stated that Hezbollah could resist Israeli attacks for an extended period but was open to a negotiated truce if favorable terms were presented.
The possibility of a ceasefire was also being discussed by Lebanon’s Prime Minister and Israel’s security cabinet. Israeli Energy Minister mentioned that discussions were ongoing regarding the terms of a potential truce, including Hezbollah’s withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese army along the border. An international mechanism for enforcing the ceasefire was also proposed. The US State Department officials were heading to Israel to work on diplomatic solutions for both the Gaza and Lebanon conflicts.
Explosions were reported in Baalbek and Sohmor due to Israeli strikes, resulting in casualties. Hezbollah retaliated by firing rockets at military positions in northern Israel. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has caused significant casualties on both sides. In a parallel conflict with Hamas in Gaza, deadly strikes continued as mediators worked on proposing a short-term truce to address the humanitarian crisis and hostage situations.
Efforts to negotiate truces were ongoing, with international mediators involved in discussions. The proposal included a short-term truce involving the exchange of hostages and increased aid to Gaza. Hamas was open to discussing ceasefire ideas that involved Israeli withdrawal, while Israel emphasized the need to maintain military pressure to secure the return of hostages. The recent strike in Gaza drew condemnation from global leaders, highlighting the urgency of finding peaceful resolutions to the conflicts in the region.