Washington urges Hezbollah to halt attacks and Israel to avoid escalation in Beirut.
Image: The New Yorker
The United States has proposed a new plan aimed at reducing tensions between Israel and Lebanon amid ongoing fighting.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the proposal with Joseph Aoun and Benjamin Netanyahu.
Under the plan, Hezbollah would stop attacks on Israel, while Israel would avoid escalating military action in Beirut. US officials said the proposal could help create conditions for a gradual ceasefire.
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri reportedly said Israel should stop its attacks first, while Hezbollah maintains that Israeli military operations must end before any halt in its actions.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu said Israeli forces had expanded operations inside Lebanon following recent cross-border attacks.
US officials said talks between Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to continue in Washington on June 2 and 3 as efforts to reach a broader de-escalation agreement continue.
