Media: Israel seeks assistance from Russia, its forces in Syria

The US-brokered proposal outlines that Hezbollah would relocate all of its forces and weapons north of the Litani River, which is approximately 18 miles from the Israeli border, with the closest points only about 8 miles away.

The Lebanese military and United Nations peacekeepers would be tasked with ensuring that Hezbollah does not return to the area, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Israeli officials have expressed concerns, particularly over how to enforce the cease-fire agreement if the UN and Lebanese forces fail to do so. They are also focused on preventing Hezbollah from replenishing its weapons stocks, which have been degraded by Israeli actions. To address this, Israel is seeking cooperation from Russian authorities in Syria to curb arms smuggling into Lebanon.

"There is some progress in the attempts to reach a settlement in Lebanon," said Israel’s new foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar. "Our main challenge will be to enforce what is agreed upon."

Despite the optimism from Israeli and American officials, both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah have recently rejected Israel's demand for it to enforce the cease-fire, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. Instead, they suggested that, in addition to the Lebanese military, the Israeli military, and the UN, a fourth guarantor be added to the committee tasked with enforcing the cease-fire agreement, which would likely be the US, according to the source. 

A poll released by the Institute for National Security Studies revealed that 80 per cent of the Israeli public believes the current security situation is not safe enough for most residents to return to northern communities. In parallel with its ground operation expansion, Israel has also intensified airstrikes in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut's Dahiyeh district. 

The frequency of strikes in Beirut has increased over the past week, with residential areas being targeted at least every other day for more than a week. Israel's military states that it has been targeting Hezbollah's weapon stockpiles, including ballistic missiles, land-to-sea missiles, and rocket launchers.

The situation in Lebanon remains tense, as US officials express concern over Israeli airstrikes on Beirut. The US State Department’s deputy spokesperson, Vedant Patel, voiced Washington's unease regarding the air raids, which resulted in 21 fatalities in the Lebanese capital. 

Patel also reiterated the US stance on the need for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in line with Resolution 1701, stressing that the resolution must serve as the basis for returning displaced civilians on both sides of the "Blue Line" – the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, monitored by UN peacekeepers.

The Israeli Air Force carried out strikes on three Hezbollah targets in southern Beirut. Explosions rocked the areas of Ghobeiri and Shiyah, with thick plumes of smoke rising from the strike sites. A source in Lebanon's civil defence reported that the buildings targeted in Ghobeiri housed Hezbollah offices. In Shia suburb in the south of Beirut, repeated bombings were reported on November 14.

By Naila Huseynova