Deputy Speaker of Parlimant Elias Bou Saab reported that Lebanon is nearing the hour of the ceasefire following a meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri and other politicians in Ain el Tineh on Monday afternoon.
Various news reports on Monday have indicated that a ceasefire is nearing, potentially within the next few weeks or even days.
This includes reports of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holding a crucial meeting on Sunday to discuss the ceasefire in Lebanon, after which he reportedly gave his approval for the “idea” of a ceasefire, as per a CNN report.
Axios reported on Monday that the Israeli security cabinet is expected to approve the deal on Tuesday, as per a senior Amercain official.
Since Sunday evening, various Israeli media have reported that Israel has decided to move forth with a ceasefire deal in Lebanon.
The Israeli Broadcasting Channel went as far as saying that the agreement with Lebanon has been completed, with Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reporting that the US believes an agreement has been reached between Israel and Hezbollah.
Some have related this interpretation to the field, with reports indicating that Hezbollah has launched its conflict-concluding rounds of rockets, similarly to Israeli forces’ heavy bombing of Beirut’s Southern Suburbs, the Bekaa and the South – a pattern that mimics that in the days preceding the end of the 2006 war, in which both sides amped up operations until hours preceding the ceasefire.
Reports of a nearing ceasefire have come and gone multiple times throughout the last several weeks, with the Lebanese public often receiving false hopes of a potential end to the fighting before receiving news of an Israeli escalation.
However, this is the first time that reports on a ceasefire have emerged from both ends, with Israeli media also reporting that a ceasefire may soon be reached.
Ground Developments
Confrontations on the ground in southern Lebanese towns and villages have resumed throughout the last week. Intensification took place particularly in the town of al-Khiyam, considered of high strategic importance.
The Israeli Army had entered the town of Chamaa last week, which has highlands overlooking a range of areas in South Lebanon, providing significant battlefield advantage, but have thus far failed to capture any of the border towns where confrontations have taken place.
Since the start of Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon, Israeli forces have been heavily shelling and striking the town of al-Khiyam as they try to advance and capture the town. At the moment, fighting in al-Khiyam is taking place in the tight streets of the town, and despite being surrounded by several sides, the town has not fallen with resistance operations holding up.
Israel Continues to Wage Destruction Across Lebanon
In the meantime, Israeli forces have continued targeting other areas in Lebanon, including issuing new mass forced displacement orders to the city of Tyre, Nabatieh and Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Airstrikes and recurrent pummelling continue to destroy entire buildings and neighborhoods.
Should a ceasefire unfold in the coming days, it is likely that Israel will continue its pattern of mass destruction and death across Lebanon.