Lebanon's Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib revealed in an interview that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had agreed to a 21-day ceasefire just days before his assassination by Israel. The temporary ceasefire was proposed by US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other allies during the recent UN General Assembly.
Habib stated that Nasrallah had agreed to the ceasefire, with Lebanon consulting with Hezbollah on the matter. The Lebanese House Speaker, Nabih Berri, engaged with Hezbollah, and the decision was communicated to the American and French leaders. It was reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also consented to the ceasefire proposal put forth by Biden and Macron.
White House senior adviser Amos Hochstein was expected to travel to Lebanon to further negotiate the terms of the ceasefire. However, before any progress could be made, Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut.
Prior to the tragic event, a joint statement from several countries and entities, including the US, France, Australia, Canada, the EU, and others, called for a 21-day ceasefire to allow for diplomatic efforts and prevent further escalations.
Responding to concerns about the diminishing influence of the United States in the region, Habib emphasized the importance of American involvement. He expressed the belief that US assistance was crucial for achieving a ceasefire, despite uncertainties about the level of support that Lebanon would receive.
