Lebanon and Israel Near Ceasefire Deal Amid Ongoing Conflict

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed optimism for a ceasefire with Israel after discussions with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein. A leaked draft agreement suggests a 60-day truce with Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon within the first week, though uncertainty remains amid the ongoing conflict.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed fresh optimism for a ceasefire deal with Israel, hinting that an agreement could be reached within days. The optimism follows a discussion with U.S. envoy for the Middle East, Amos Hochstein.

A draft agreement, reportedly leaked and released by Israel's public broadcaster Kan, proposes an initial 60-day truce. This document indicates that Israel would begin withdrawing its forces from Lebanon in the first week of the ceasefire. Sources familiar with the negotiations corroborate the proposal, aligning with information previously reported by Reuters.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified over the past year, amid Israel's broader conflict with Gaza. Over 2,800 deaths have been reported in Lebanon in the past 12 months, largely in the recent weeks. Hezbollah has yet to officially respond to the draft proposal.

(With inputs from agencies.)