Israel and Lebanon discuss ceasefire

Senior Israeli and Lebanese officials have signaled that a week-long truce could be imminent, potentially providing a breakthrough in the wider Middle East conflict.

The negotiations, hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, mark the first direct diplomatic contact between the adversaries in decades.

While the Israeli military continues to strike Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, Prime Minister Netanyahu is facing growing domestic and international calls for a sustainable peace.

Mediators hope that a successful Lebanon ceasefire could pave the way for a broader deal between the U.S. and Iran.