A U.S. official told Fox News that the Biden administration is in talks with Israel and other countries to secure a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah amid fears of a larger war breaking out in the region.
The effort comes amid ongoing intense missile attacks between Israel and Iran-backed terror groups based in Lebanon.
“We know tensions are rising, but we also know there is a path forward through diplomacy, and that's why this administration is working so hard to get this done,” Sabrina Singh, assistant Defense Department spokesperson, told reporters on Wednesday.
The proposal is for a temporary ceasefire to last a few weeks, with the hope that it could lead to a permanent ceasefire. The plan began to come together after a phone call on Monday between National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
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Thick smoke rises over the southern outskirts of Beirut after an Israeli attack on Sept. 20, 2024. Israel has intensified airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in recent days, raising fears of all-out war in the region. (Photo credit: -/AFP via Getty Images)
The official said France was taking part in the talks, as were other Arab countries with which the United States regularly partners.
U.S. efforts to secure a ceasefire are not linked to efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas or to the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, the officials said.
Lebanese authorities said heavy Israeli shelling on Monday killed at least 560 people and forced thousands to flee southern Lebanon, as Israel continues to launch attacks. Dozens of air strikes The attack on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon comes after months of attacks by the terror group targeting Israeli territory.
Hezbollah said it had fired missiles at eight targets in Israel early Tuesday, and the Israeli military said it was tracking 55 rockets that were fired from Lebanon and landed in Israel.
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Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike on the village of Khiam, seen from the town of Marjayoun in southern Lebanon, Tuesday, September 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Marra)
Israel has said it does not want war with Hezbollah, which has launched multiple attacks on its southern neighbor since clashes between Israel and Hamas on October 7. But the Israeli military has vowed to “do whatever is necessary” to drive Iranian proxies from its northern border.
Recently, an Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Mohammed Qubaisi in Beirut. Qubaisi was the top commander of Hezbollah's missile and rocket forces.
Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, Israel has carried out at least five targeted airstrikes in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
The Pentagon announced Monday that it was sending an additional 40,000 U.S. troops to the Middle East.
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“In light of the rising tensions In the Middle East “Out of an abundance of caution, we will be sending a small number of additional U.S. military personnel to augment U.S. forces already in the region, but for operational security reasons we are not going to comment or provide any specifics,” Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a news conference off cameras.
Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
