Indirect talks on resolving Israel-Lebanon border hostilities to begin during Ramadan, Lebanese PM says

Indirect talks on an end to hostilities along the Lebanese-Israeli border will begin during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts next week, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati says.

Mikati tells local broadcaster Al Jadeed that Lebanese officials were studying a verbal proposal suggested by US envoy Amos Hochstein, who was in Beirut on Monday to push a diplomatic solution to exchanges of fire between the powerful Lebanese armed party Hezbollah and Israel.

Since October 8, Hezbollah forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the northern border with rockets, missiles and drones on a near-daily basis, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza amid the war there.

So far, the skirmishes on the border have resulted in seven civilian deaths on the Israeli side, as well as the deaths of 10 IDF soldiers and reservists.

Hezbollah has named 232 members who have been killed by Israel during the ongoing skirmishes, mostly in Lebanon, but some also in Syria.

In Lebanon, another 37 operatives from other terror groups, a Lebanese soldier, and at least 30 civilians, three of whom were journalists, have been killed.