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The White House has announced that Israel and Hezbollah are close to reaching a ceasefire agreement following weeks of negotiations.

Let’s bring you up to speed: Roughly three months ago, Israel officially entered southern Lebanon with ground forces following heightened tensions and cross-border attacks by Hezbollah. The Israeli military stated that its operations aimed to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, including rocket launch sites used to target Israeli civilians and soldiers. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has framed its actions as a resistance to Israeli aggression and occupation, continuing to fire rockets into Israel while demanding an end to Israeli incursions into Lebanon and assurances for Lebanese sovereignty.

What’s going on now: According to the White House, significant progress has been made toward a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, with both sides nearing a deal after extensive negotiations. The key terms of the proposed agreement include a 60-day ceasefire monitored by a five-nation coalition led by the United States and France, aimed at de-escalating tensions and creating conditions for a longer-lasting truce. One critical stipulation is the relocation of Hezbollah’s fighters and assets north of the Litani River to minimize threats to Israeli border villages, alongside provisions allowing Israel to respond if the group violates the ceasefire terms. The agreement also outlines mechanisms for verifying compliance, with details expected to be finalized in upcoming discussions.

In a statement, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, “We believe we’ve reached this point where we’re close. We believe that the trajectory of this is going in a very positive direction — but again nothing is done until everything is done, nothing is negotiated until everything is negotiated.”

This all comes as intense fighting continues between Israel and Hezbollah, with the clashes causing significant casualties on both sides. In Lebanon, over 3,000 people have been killed, including civilians, as Israeli forces target Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, personnel, and rocket launch sites. On the Israeli side, dozens of soldiers and civilians have lost their lives due to Hezbollah’s cross-border rocket attacks and skirmishes in Lebanon.