US Envoy Reports Progress in Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Talks

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein is actively mediating to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, with significant progress reported in talks with Lebanese officials. A U.S.-drafted proposal, broadly agreed upon by Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, includes the withdrawal of militants and Israeli ground forces from a U.N. buffer zone in southern Lebanon, though some technical details remain unresolved. Hochstein plans to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to push for an agreement, amid ongoing hostilities and Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon. The Biden administration aims to finalize the ceasefire before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office. While Lebanon has shown positive signs towards the ceasefire, Netanyahu has expressed skepticism about Hezbollah's commitment to any agreement, emphasizing Israel's need to maintain security operations. The ceasefire talks are seen as more promising than those between Israel and Hamas, which have stalled.