Report: Hochstein communicating with Berri, still hoping for Gaza truce

Speaker Nabih Berri has ruled out an imminent expansion of the Israeli war on Lebanon because “U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein is still communicating with him,” a prominent parliamentary source said.

Hochstein “is still hoping for a ceasefire on Gaza’s front, which is supposed to automatically apply to south Lebanon, which would allow him to move to Beirut to negotiate with him (Berri) over a settlement that would restore calm and stability based on the implementation of Resolution 1701,” the source added, in remarks to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

Hezbollah has traded near-daily cross-border fire with Israeli forces in support of Hamas since the Palestinian group's October 7 attack on southern Israel triggered war in the Gaza Strip.

The violence since October has killed at least 518 people in Lebanon, according to an AFP tally. Most of the dead have been fighters, but they have included at least 104 civilians.

On the Israeli side, 18 soldiers and 13 civilians have been killed, according to Israeli authorities.