World

Israel edging closer to ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon – reports

Israel edging closer to ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon - reports

Israel is said to be edging closer to a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to reports.

Israeli media outlets Haaretz, Walla, Ynet, Kan and American news website Axios reported both parties are getting closer to reaching a deal amid signs of progress in the US-led ceasefire talks.

It is suggested Israel has agreed to large parts of a ceasefire deal – but not all of it, yet.

An agreement could see an end to fighting that has seen more than 3,500 Lebanese killed and more than 15,000 injured in over a year.

Any potential agreement would also reportedly allow hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the border to gradually return home, Axios reported.

It follows more airstrikes over the weekend which saw Hezbollah fire heavy rocket barrages at Israel on Sunday.

Israel’s military said houses had been destroyed or set alight near Tel Aviv, after an Israeli airstrike killed at least 29 people in Beirut the day before.

Israel also struck Beirut’s Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player


1:14

Beirut rocked by blasts

Hezbollah’s new leader Naim Kassem appeared to be open to a ceasefire with Israel during a speech last week.

He hinted at progress in the negotiations – and struck a positive tone looking ahead, saying: “We are thinking about the future of our country.”

Fighting began between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel the day after the 7 October Hamas attacks last year, and Israel launched a ground invasion earlier this year.

Reports claimed that the draft agreement included a 60-day transition period that would see the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) withdraw from southern Lebanon – where troops have been fighting the Iran-backed militant group.

It would also reportedly see Hezbollah move its heavy weapons north of the Litani River as the Lebanese army would deploy in areas close to the border – all in an effort to maintain peace.

Analysis: Expect bumps in the road ahead

Progress towards a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel has moved slowly but steadily in the right direction – it now seems that both sides are closing their positions on a truce that could be announced as early as this week.

Remaining issues are still to be resolved, particularly how the agreement will be enforced, a senior official in Israel’s prime minister’s office has told me.

Israel wants US guarantees that it can take military action if Hezbollah regroups in southern Lebanon, but there would need to be a reporting mechanism in place whereby Israel flags its concerns first before any military option.

If a ceasefire is agreed, it will be presented as a win by all sides: Israel will say, with justification, that it has successfully pushed Hezbollah forces back from its border, killed many of the group’s senior leadership, eliminated much of its military capability, created a safe environment for around 60,000 of its civilians to return home, and brought security on its northern border.

Hezbollah will likely boast it has continued its fight against Israel and support for Hamas for around 14 months, causing not insignificant damage to Israel and engaging the IDF in a tough battle in southern Lebanon.

And the United States, which has brokered the deal through its envoy Amos Hochstein, will be able to claim a foreign policy success at least on one front in the final weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency.

There will still be bumps in the road ahead.

It’s unclear how the Lebanese armed forces will be able to assume control of southern Lebanon given how stretched they already are, how Israel will prevent Hezbollah rearming through routes across the Syrian border, how decades-old territorial disputes will be resolved.

But right now the vibe, from both sides, is increasingly confident.

Quoting a senior Israeli source, one news site said “the direction was positive” but that an agreement hadn’t been finalised.

Other reports added that an announcement was possible this week if things went to plan.

According to Axios, the draft agreement includes a US-led oversight committee to monitor implementation and address any potential violations.

It added the deal was nearing completion when the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant last Thursday.

A billboard in Iran depicts Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant in prison jumpsuits.
Pic: Reuters
Image:
A billboard in Iran depicts Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant in prison jumpsuits. Pic: Reuters

Ynet reported US envoy Amos Hochstein had informed Lebanon of Israel’s move towards agreeing to the settlement.

It added Mr Hochstein had previously made it clear to Israel that Lebanon had already agreed to the ceasefire before it did, and if this failed, no further efforts would be made before Donald Trump enters the White House in January.

Read more from Sky News:
Russian forces capture ‘former British soldier’
Three arrested after body of missing rabbi found
Has assisted dying in Canada ‘crossed the line’?

Israel reportedly moved towards a potential deal after Mr Netanyahu held a meeting with his most senior ministers and intelligence chiefs.

While this would not mark the first time reports have emerged claiming a ceasefire deal is close in the region, any such step would be an important one.

Reports added among the negotiations, Israel sought assurances from the US that it could react with force if Hezbollah broke the terms of the ceasefire.