BEIRUT: Lebanon’s prime minister said that US ambassador Amos Hochstein had signaled during a telephone call Wednesday that a truce in the Hezbollah- Israel war was possible before US polls are held on November 5.
PM Najib Mikati said that the call today with US Ambassador Hochstein has suggested to him that perhaps they may reach a truce before the 5th November, local media reported.
Earlier, on Wednesday Hezbollah’s new chief Naim Qassem stated that they would agree to a truce with Israel under acceptable conditions, but added that a viable deal has yet to be presented.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister said that they were doing their best… to have a ceasefire within the coming days or hours. He said that he was carefully optimistic about the truce.
Hezbollah’s new leader said that the group would accept a ceasefire under conditions deemed “appropriate and suitable,”.
Mikati further said that a ceasefire would be connected to the execution of a UN resolution that ended the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.
According to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution, the only the Lebanese military and UN peacekeepers should be deployed in southern Lebanon, while also demanding the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.
Mikati further said that the Lebanese military is ready to enhance its presence in southern Lebanon” as well as ensure that the only military and arms infrastructure in the region are those controlled by the state.
