ADDS ON THE RECORD COMMENTS FROM JOHN KIRBY IN GRAFS 4-6, CLARIFIES BLUE LINE IN GRAF 3
By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - There has been "significant progress" in efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah, but more work remains before a pact can be sealed, the White House said Monday.
"We have clearly made significant progress, however, we’re not there yet," a National Security Council spokesperson told Anadolu on condition of anonymity.
"We continue to work to reach a diplomatic resolution to allow civilians on both sides of the Blue Line to be able to safely return to their homes,” he added, referring to the de facto Israeli-Lebanese border.
The Blue Line refers to a demarcation line separating Lebanon from Israel, and the Syrian Golan Heights, which are currently occupied by Israel.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby later said the White House believes "the trajectory" of the talks "is going in the right direction" after US envoy Amos Hochstein returned to Washington following his latest round of mediation between Lebanon and Israel.
Still, Kirby cautioned that the agreement "is not done," but declined to weigh in on specific components of the unfinished agreement "so that I don't in any way sabotage the efforts to actually complete it."
"This remains an important priority for President Biden. That's why we have been working hard to mediate this deal so that people can return to their lives and their homes around the Blue Line, and the rockets and missiles can stop," he added.
The White House comments come after multiple Israeli media reports suggested a cease-fire deal is expected to be announced within two days.
Israeli public broadcaster KAN, citing an Israeli source, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to a US-backed cease-fire with Lebanon.
The report came one day after Hochstein on Sunday threatened to withdraw from mediation efforts aimed at brokering a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Lebanon if Tel Aviv does not accept the US proposal, according to Israeli media.
Israel has escalated its airstrikes in Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets as part of year-long warfare against the Lebanese group since the start of the Gaza war last year.
More than 3,600 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with more than 15,300 injured and over a million displaced since October 2023, according to Lebanese health authorities.
This Oct. 1, Israel expanded the conflict by launching a ground incursion into southern Lebanon.