Part 9/13:
In the Middle East, diplomatic efforts are underway to de-escalate the tense situation in Lebanon. US envoy Amos Hockin is en route to Beirut following Lebanon’s positive response to a US-backed ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The proposal, rooted in UN resolution 1701, calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah militants south of the Litani River, with restrictions on armed groups in the region to the Lebanese Army and UN peacekeepers. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati confirmed that much of the proposal has been positively received, but some issues require further face-to-face discussions, scheduled for Tuesday.