Israel sees progress in Lebanon ceasefire talks, says Russia could help disarm Hezbollah
FirstpostIsrael has been waging a major offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon since late September, pounding its strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs, southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley and sending troops into areas near the border Smoke rises above Lebanon following an Israeli strike, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, on Israel's border with Lebanon. Israel escalated air strikes in late September targeting Hezbollah strongholds across Lebanon and sent in ground troops a week later, on September 30. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the aim of the operation is to push Hezbollah north of the Litani river, which flows across southern Lebanon. He said Israel would “be ready” for a ceasefire if Hezbollah is not on the country’s border and unable to rearm itself with weapon systems arriving “from Syria, from the sea, from the airport”.