Amos Hochstein, President Biden’s envoy in charge of negotiations for a ceasefire in Lebanon, is expected in Beirut, possibly as early as Tuesday, to receive Lebanon’s official response to the American-Israeli proposal. According to the Lebanese channel LBCI, Lebanon and Hezbollah have already transmitted their agreement in principle to the American plan. Despite the intensification of Israeli strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah, a senior Israeli official said: “An arrangement is on the table. Discussions are taking place behind the scenes. The increase in strikes is a symptom of the attempt to reach an agreement.”
Lebanese sources cited by the Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat indicate that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and his team are maintaining contact with Hochstein to present to Israel the final version of their response. According to these sources, “the response will not be negative, but will include observations.”
At the same time, Lebanese media report that a strike attributed to Israel in Mar Elias, Beirut, killed a senior commander of Hezbollah’s “Southern Front”, Mohammed Madi, responsible for his unit’s operations.
The Israeli army also confirmed that it had eliminated Mohammed Afif, Hezbollah spokesperson, in an airstrike in Beirut. According to the military statement, “Afif joined Hezbollah in the 1980s and became a central figure in the organization, greatly influencing its military activities. He was in contact with senior officials for the promotion, planning and direction of “military operations.”
Lebanese authorities are expected to seek clarification regarding the freedom of action promised to Israel in a side document between Israel and the United States, which would not be part of the main agreement. Lebanon refuses to grant Israel freedom of action on its territory in the event of violations of the agreement. Diplomatic sources cited by Lebanese media, however, express “serious concern that Netanyahu will end up rejecting the plan.”
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