Echoing FM, official says there’s progress towards Lebanon ceasefire

There is progress toward a ceasefire in Lebanon, an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel.

“We are now talking to the US about letters to anchor our ability and legitimacy to operate against any threat from Lebanon,” explains the official, echoing remarks made by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar earlier today.

“If there are any attempts to fire at us, to build up their military, to bring in weapons through Syria, we will act,” promises the official.

“We want to see Hezbollah north of the Litani [River], we want to see the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon, we want to see a stop to the flow of weapons through Syria,” continues the official, repeating long-standing Israeli demands.

The official confirms that an Israeli delegation was in Moscow recently to discuss Russia’s role in ensuring that weapons don’t reach Hezbollah through Syria.

Israel expects a ceasefire to be reached during the remaining weeks of the Joe Biden administration, says the official, but that “also depends on the Lebanese side.”

“We have a plan to expand our operations if Lebanon says no.”