Axios: American Initiative to Contain Escalation Between Israel and Hezbollah

SadaNews - Axios reported, citing an American official, that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made contacts with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the past 48 hours as part of American efforts to promote a new ceasefire initiative and contain the escalation on the Lebanese front.

According to the American official, the initiative was proposed within the framework of ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, which in its first phase calls for Hezbollah to cease all attacks on Israel, in exchange for Israel refraining from escalating further or carrying out additional operations in Beirut.

The official added that this step could open the door for a gradual reduction of tension leading to an actual cessation of hostilities.

He noted that the Lebanese president sought to present the proposal and work towards reaching an understanding on it, but that the response from the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, was, in his words, "evasive and disappointing."

The official explained that Berri confirmed his ability to ensure Hezbollah's commitment to the ceasefire, but insisted that Israel must stop its operations first.

The American official accused Hezbollah of following Iranian directives, considering that the party does not prioritize the interests of the Lebanese people. He also claimed that Tehran seeks to prolong the conflict in Lebanon to later appear as a party that contributed to containing the crisis.

The official confirmed that the United States does not expect Israel to continue enduring the attacks it faces, adding that "the fastest way to reduce escalation and protect civilians from all sides is for Hezbollah to cease fire immediately."