US ceasefire push to end Israel-Hezbollah war stalls as Tel Aviv ramps up offensive in Beirut: Report
The US effort to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has stalled as Israel expands its offensive in Beirut. Washington had urged restraint on strikes in the capital, but that position may be softening as ceasefire talks, regional tensions, and Hezbollah attacks continue.
The latest US effort to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon has stalled as Israel widens its ground offensive and requests approval from Washington to carry out large-scale strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut.
Citing sources, Axios reported on Monday that for the past several weeks, Washington had discouraged Tel Aviv from striking Beirut as part of a broader effort to lower tensions. However, a US official has now hinted that the stance could soften and added, “The US does not expect Israel to absorb ongoing attacks on its civilians by a terrorist organisation.”
President Donald Trump's administration's de-escalation effort in Lebanon has been partially motivated by its desire to reach a deal with Iran, after Tehran listed an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah as one of the conditions in the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Marco Rubio speaks with Israeli PM, Lebanon's president
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the last 48 hours to push forward a new ceasefire initiative, a US official said. Additionally, a Lebanese official confirmed that Rubio raised the initiative with Aoun.
According to the US official, the basic idea of the conversation was that Iran-backed Hezbollah would halt its missile and drone attacks against Israel, and Tel Aviv would avoid escalation in Beirut. The official also stated that the Lebanese president was supportive and asked the speaker of Lebanon's parliament, Nabih Berri, to press Hezbollah to halt its attacks on Israel. However, Berri, who leads a major Shia party and has links to Hezbollah, gave an "evasive and disappointing" response, suggesting that Israel should stop firing first.
Does the US-brokered ceasefire exist on paper?
Trump and Rubio have announced several ceasefires over the last two months between Israel and Lebanon; however, they have existed mostly on paper, with both Tel Aviv and the Iran-backed group violating them.
Rubio's latest ceasefire push comes in the context of ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, which have yet to yield a breakthrough.
According to a Lebanese official, neither Hezbollah nor Israel wants a ceasefire, and Washington has not taken any strict action to prevent the Israeli PM from escalating his ground offensive.
On the other hand, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been urging Hezbollah to escalate to gain a bargaining chip in the US-Iran talks, the Lebanese official contended.
Israel-Hezbollah launch strike, push ceasefire further away
The development comes a day after Israel expanded its ground offensive in Lebanon, with its broadest incursion into the country in a quarter of a century, as Hezbollah, Iran's most powerful regional ally, stepped up its attacks on Israel's north, Bloomberg reported.
Citing the Israeli military, the report noted that Hezbollah fired over 300 projectiles at its soldiers in Beirut and at northern Israel over the weekend. The latest escalation has shattered a brittle ceasefire declared after the Tehran-backed group attacked Israel in response to its war on Iran, which it launched with the US in late February.
Israel-Lebanon officials push for a ceasefire
Last week, Israeli and Lebanese military officials met at the US Pentagon to discuss a possible ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the disarmament of Hezbollah, and the deployment of the Lebanese armed forces in southern Lebanon.
According to Axios, diplomats from both countries are expected to meet at the State Department later this week for another round of talks.
Lebanese PM slams Israeli strikes
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on May 30 reaffirmed the government's determination to end the war, safeguard Lebanon, and prevent the country from becoming "a mailbox and an open arena for the conflicts of others."
"Israel is not targeting specific sites; it is pursuing a policy of total devastation," Salam was cited as saying by the NNA news outlet, adding that its actions constitute "not only a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty but also an attempt to erase history."
Earlier, on 28 May, Salam also slammed Israel for its latest military offensive in Beirut. In a post on X, he wrote, "Nothing can justify the ongoing assaults on my regions of Tyre and Nabatieh and the destruction of their historical landmarks, nor the continuous threats targeting our peaceful people there, nor the repeated calls for them to leave their homes and abandon their livelihoods, amounting to collective punishment condemned by all international norms and laws."
Hezbollah began firing rockets and drones at Israel after Israel entered a wider conflict with Iran and carried out an assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israel answered with airstrikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon that has evolved into a substantial occupation, while Hezbollah has pushed the reach of its missile and drone strikes deeper into Israeli territory.
- The US is attempting to mediate a ceasefire, but both Israel and Hezbollah show little willingness to halt hostilities.
- Israel's military strategy appears to prioritize total destruction over targeted operations, complicating peace efforts.
- The conflict is influenced by broader geopolitical dynamics, including US-Iran relations and regional power struggles.
About the Author
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
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