Hochstein says 'there is a shot' of ceasefire in Lebanon soon

U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein said he believes "there is a shot" of securing a ceasefire deal in Lebanon soon, telling U.S. news portal Axios: "I am hopeful we can get it."

U.S. officials said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had indicated to the Biden administration that he wanted to end the war in Lebanon within weeks.

Israeli minister for strategic affairs Ron Dermer met on Monday evening with Hochstein and Brett McGurk, another key Biden adviser, and discussed the efforts to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon, presenting Israel's position.

On Tuesday morning, Dermer met with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan to continue the discussions.

A U.S. official said the meetings with Dermer were productive and closed many of the remaining gaps between the U.S. and Israel regarding the text of the ceasefire agreement and a side letter Israel has requested.

The letter would include a U.S. commitment allowing Israel to take military action in Lebanon if the Lebanese Army and U.N. peacekeepers don't prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing military activity near the border, or from smuggling heavy weapons into Lebanon, U.S. officials said.

"It is not quite a done deal, but close to it," one U.S. official said.

After the talks with Dermer, the U.S. must receive a response from the Lebanese government and from Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who negotiates on behalf of Hezbollah, Hochstein said.

Hochstein also emphasized that there will be no involvement of Russia in the cease-fire agreement in Lebanon or in the supervision of its implementation.