image source, Reuters
Last updated 22 minutes ago
US ambassador Amos Hockstein said he held “very constructive” talks during his visit to Lebanon to try to reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah.
Hockstein confirmed that there is a “real opportunity” to end the conflict between the two parties, explaining that “the solution is close,” and that the window is open to reach an agreement, in the coming days, as he said.
Hockstein pointed out, after his meeting with the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri Ain al-Tineh, in the presence of the US Ambassador Lisa Johnson, that the ongoing talks are now aimed at “reducing the gaps” that have been there for weeks, expressing her commitment to work with the Lebanese and Israeli governments to resolve the crisis.
The American ambassador’s visit comes amid efforts to reach a truce between Israel and Lebanon, and at a time when informed Lebanese sources confirmed that Lebanon agreed to most of the provisions of the American draft proposal for truce with Israel, while expressing ideas and changes to the establishment of the investigation committee.
On the other hand, Israeli media were skeptical about the possibility of reaching a cease-fire agreement with Lebanon.
The Israeli newspaper “Haaretz” said that despite the “hopeful” statements about the possibility of reaching an agreement such as “within days,” there are key points that are still a matter of disagreement. agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
The newspaper explained that among the points of disagreement is Israel’s demand for “freedom of action” in the event of Hezbollah’s “violation” of the agreement, as well as the establishment of an international monitoring committee for its implementation, which will participating in what has been described. as “the process of politically and militarily neutralizing Hezbollah.”
This comes when the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that more than 200 children were killed in Lebanon in less than two months.
While the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced in a statement that at least 3,544 people died and 15,036 were injured in Lebanon since October 2023, and “46 civilians and 78 soldiers” were killed on the Israeli side, according to an official. data.
Israel says it wants to drive Hezbollah out of the border areas in southern Lebanon to ensure the return of 60,000 people to their homes in northern Israel, who were expelled by party attacks.
On the ground, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced that Israel had launched a “new attack” on a base for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), denying This “inappropriate” action.
Crosetto, on the sidelines of a meeting of European defense ministers in Brussels, said: “Today there was a new attack on UNIFIL headquarters.
The Italian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that eight missiles targeted the headquarters of the Italian mission in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Shamaa, southern Lebanon.
The statement said no injuries were recorded, noting that “five Italian soldiers are being held at the base’s medical facility.” “
The UNIFIL mission confirmed that peacekeepers and their resources were targeted in three separate incidents in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, during which four peacekeepers were wounded.
image source, Reuters
Comment on the picture, Part of damaged buildings near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon.
For its part, Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli forces near four towns in southern Lebanon, while the Israeli army announced that sirens had been heard in central and northern Israel, and that they found about 40 projectiles that entered Israeli territory.
While the Israeli army announced that a soldier was killed and three other soldiers were seriously wounded in battles inside the Lebanese territory, while the Israeli forces are engaged in a limited ground operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, reportedly.
The Israeli army said that the number of Israeli soldiers killed has increased to 49 since the ground attack on Lebanese territory against Hezbollah began on September 30.
In a detailed statement, the Israeli army said, “The forces of the 98th Division began raiding Hezbollah’s central targets in southern Lebanon based on accurate intelligence information, in coordination with the Israeli Air Force.” “
The statement said, “The forces have so far hit dozens of targets used to launch missiles at Israel, command centers, weapons storage facilities, and observation points.”
The Israeli army said in a statement: “In the Upper Galilee, Western Galilee, and Central Galilee regions, around 25 projectiles were found that were launched from Lebanon towards Israel,” while noting -note that “ten projectiles that crossed Israeli territory fell from Lebanon” earlier. .
Israeli ambulance services confirmed that at least four people were injured as a result of projectiles from Lebanon.
Israeli police said in a statement they were investigating “damage sites” where Israeli air defense systems intercepted the missiles but did not report any damage or serious injuries.
For its part, the Magen David Adom Ambulance Service said that “four were slightly injured by pieces of glass,” while they were in a “concrete building where the windows were broken” in the Sharon area.
2024-11-19 15:53:00
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What are the potential consequences of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel for regional stability in the Middle East?
Questions:
1. What is the current state of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, including casualty numbers on both sides and their respective objectives?
2. What actions has Israel taken in response to Hezbollah’s attacks, and how has this impacted civilians living near the border?
3. How has the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) responded to the recent attacks on their headquarters and personnel? What is their role in maintaining peace in southern Lebanon?
4. How have other countries, such as the United States, reacted to the escalation of violence in Lebanon? Do they support any specific actions or policies in response to these events?
5. What challenges does Lebanon face in reaching a comprehensive peace agreement with Israel, given the ongoing tensions and political instability within the country?
6. How does the international community plan to address the humanitarian crisis caused by the displacement of around 60,0000 people due to the conflict in northern Israel?
