Israel and Hezbollah expected to observe one-week truce from 16th under US pressure

[Financial News] Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed faction that began attacking Israel on the 2nd of last month (local time), has claimed it has agreed to a ceasefire with Israel. Israel has not issued an official response, but is reportedly considering a short-term truce lasting about one week.
Mahmoud Qamati, deputy head of the Hezbollah Political Council, said on the 15th during an appearance on Lebanese broadcaster Al Jadeed TV that the group agrees to a ceasefire with Israel. He added that Hezbollah would welcome any effort made to achieve a truce, but stressed it would not return to the 2024 ceasefire framework. Qamati argued that only one side had honored that agreement, claiming Israel had evaded and violated all of its obligations.
Hezbollah, one of the most prominent Iran-aligned groups in the Middle East, attacked Israel during the 2023 war in the Gaza Strip, siding with Iran and the Palestinian armed group Hamas. The group reached a ceasefire with Israel in November 2024, but re-entered the conflict when Israel, together with the United States of America (US), struck Iran in February, prompting Hezbollah to attack Israel and join the Iran war. According to the Ministry of Public Health of Lebanon, cumulative deaths in Lebanon from the outbreak of fighting in February through the 14th stood at 2,124.
Since Hezbollah’s intervention, Israel has been heavily bombarding Lebanon and, under pressure from the US, is now considering a ceasefire, though it has not commented officially on Qamati’s remarks. Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on the 15th that Israel is continuing to strike Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon and is strengthening a "security zone." He specifically identified Bint Jbeil in Southern Lebanon as a Hezbollah stronghold and warned, "We will soon crush it."
On the same day, the Financial Times (FT), citing Lebanese officials, reported that Israel could agree to a truce with Lebanon after taking control of Bint Jbeil. The officials said the US is leading the ceasefire talks between Israel and Lebanon. On the 14th, a high-level meeting between Israel and Lebanon was held in Washington, D.C., under US mediation, the first such talks in 33 years.
In a report on the 15th, The Times of Israel said that the possibility of a ceasefire was discussed during a security meeting of Netanyahu’s cabinet held that day. An unnamed senior Israeli official was quoted as saying, "We expect a ceasefire within days. We must reach a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon, and we have no other choice." The outlet also reported that the US is exerting strong pressure on Israel to agree to a truce on the Lebanese front. Iran, which has been holding ceasefire talks with the US since the 11th, is strongly demanding that Washington secure a ceasefire on the Lebanon front. Israeli broadcaster Keshet 12 reported that the US is urging Israel to accept a one-week temporary truce.
Also on the 15th, The New York Times (NYT), citing Israeli officials, reported that a ceasefire could begin as early as the 16th and last for about one week.
pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter