U.S. Secretary of State Rubio called Lebanon president Aoun and Israeli prime minister Netanyahu in the past 48 hours to advance a ceasefire proposal that would have Hezbollah immediately stop all attacks on Israel in exchange for Israeli restraint in Beirut to enable phased de-escalation. Aoun has tried to broker the deal, but Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri responded evasively and demanded Israel cease fire first despite this round of hostilities being initiated by Hezbollah. A U.S. of

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio called Lebanon president Aoun and Israeli prime minister Netanyahu in the past 48 hours to advance a ceasefire proposal that would have Hezbollah immediately stop all attacks on Israel in exchange for Israeli restraint in Beirut to enable phased de-escalation. Aoun has tried to broker the deal, but Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri responded evasively and demanded Israel cease fire first despite this round of hostilities being initiated by Hezbollah. A U.S. official said Hezbollah takes direction from Iran, which seeks to prolong the Lebanon fighting to claim credit, and added Washington does not expect Israel to absorb continued attacks on its civilians; the official said the fastest way to de-escalate and protect civilians is for Hezbollah to stop firing.