Amos Hochstein briefed the media following a two-hour meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh [Getty]
US envoy Amos Hochstein emphasised that there was a “real opportunity” to end the conflict between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group in comments made during his visit to Beirut on Tuesday after receiving Lebanon’s ‘positive’ response to the draft of a proposed deal.
Hochstein briefed the media following a two-hour meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain Al-Tineh in the Lebanese capital, saying the discussions were “very constructive” and gaps towards a ceasefire deal had “narrowed”.
“The coming days will yield a decisive decision,” he said, reiterating his commitment to work with both the Lebanese and Israeli governments to end the war.
During his remarks, Israeli aircraft breached the sound barrier twice over Beirut and its surrounding areas as Israeli forces conducted strikes in southern regions including Adloun, Maaroub, Kounine, and Shaqra, and targeted two towns in Western Bekaa.
Earlier on Tuesday, strikes hit a building in the Shiyah area of Beirut’s southern suburbs without any evacuation warnings, resulting in two fatalities.
In response, Hezbollah intensified its attacks on Tel Aviv, announcing ten military operations against Israeli towns and military bases by midday.
These included targeting an Israeli army gathering in Kfar Blum, Safed, and launching a drone squadron attack on Ramat David Airbase, a major northern base located 50 kilometres (around 32 miles) southeast of Haifa.
