US push for ceasefire to end Israel-Hezbollah war stalls as Tel Aviv launches offensive in Beirut: Report | Today’s news
The latest US effort to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon has stalled as Israel ramps up its ground offensive and seeks Washington’s approval to launch large-scale strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut.
Axios reported on Monday, citing sources, that over the past few weeks, Washington has discouraged Tel Aviv from striking Beirut as part of a broader effort to reduce tensions. But one US official has now hinted that he might soften that stance, adding: “The US does not expect Israel to absorb the terrorist organization’s continued attacks on its civilians.”
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President Donald Trump’s administration’s drive to de-escalate Lebanon has been motivated in part by its desire to reach a deal with Iran after Tehran listed an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah as one of the conditions in a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Marco Rubio talks with Israeli Prime Minister, Lebanese President
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun over the past 48 hours to try to push through a new ceasefire initiative, a US official said. In addition, the Lebanese official confirmed that Rubio raised the initiative with Aoun.
According to the US official, the basic idea of the conversation was that Iran-backed Hezbollah would stop its missile and drone attacks against Israel and Tel Aviv would avoid an escalation in Beirut. The official also said the Lebanese president was supportive and asked Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri to urge Hezbollah to stop its attacks on Israel. But Berri, who leads a major Shiite party with ties to Hezbollah, responded “evasively and disappointingly” and suggested Israel should stop firing first.
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Is there a US-brokered ceasefire on paper?
Trump and Rubio have announced several cease-fires between Israel and Lebanon over the past two months; however, they existed mostly on paper and were violated by both Tel Aviv and the Iranian-backed group.
Rubio’s latest push for a truce comes amid ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, which have yet to produce a breakthrough.
According to the Lebanese official, neither Hezbollah nor Israel want a cease-fire, and Washington has taken no strong action to prevent the Israeli prime minister from escalating his ground offensive.
On the other hand, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been urging Hezbollah to escalate in order to gain a negotiating position in the US-Iran talks, a Lebanese official claimed.
Israel-Hezbollah Attacks, Moves Ceasefire Further
The development comes a day after Israel expanded its ground offensive in Lebanon with the broadest incursion into the country in a quarter century as Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful regional ally, stepped up its attacks in northern Israel, Bloomberg reported.
Citing the Israeli military, the report said Hezbollah fired over 300 projectiles at its troops in Beirut and northern Israel over the weekend. The latest escalation shattered a fragile ceasefire declared after the Tehran-backed group attacked Israel in response to its war with Iran, which it launched with the US in late February.
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Israeli-Lebanese officials are pushing for a cease-fire
Last week, Israeli and Lebanese military officials met at the US Pentagon to discuss a possible ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the disarmament of Hezbollah and the deployment of Lebanese armed forces in southern Lebanon.
According to Axios, diplomats from both countries are expected to meet at the State Department later this week for another round of negotiations.
Lebanese Prime Minister criticizes Israeli strikes
On May 30, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed the government’s determination to end the war, protect Lebanon and prevent the country from becoming a “box and open arena for others’ conflicts.”
“Israel does not target specific sites; it pursues a policy of total devastation,” Salam said, according to NNA, adding that its actions represented “not only a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, but also an attempt to erase history.”
Earlier, on May 28, Salam also criticized Israel for its latest military offensive in Beirut. In a post on X, he wrote: “Nothing can justify the continued attacks on my regions of Tire and Nabatieh and the destruction of their historical monuments, nor the constant threats directed at our peaceful people there, nor the repeated calls to leave their homes and their livelihoods, which amounts to collective punishment condemned by all international norms and laws.”
Hezbollah began firing rockets and drones at Israel after Israel entered a wider conflict with Iran and assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, which evolved into a substantial occupation, while Hezbollah pushed the reach of its rocket and drone attacks deeper into Israeli territory.
Key things
- The US is trying to broker a ceasefire, but both Israel and Hezbollah show little willingness to stop hostilities.
- Israel’s military strategy appears to favor total destruction over targeted operations, complicating peace efforts.
- The conflict is influenced by broader geopolitical dynamics, including US-Iran relations and regional power struggles.
