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Report: Hochstein kept aide in Beirut for further talks

U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein, who left Monday night for Israel through Cyprus after visiting Lebanon, kept one of his top aides in Beirut to “continue meetings with Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker PM Najib Mikati and through them with Hezbollah,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Wednesday.

“Hochstein told some of those he met that he will put them in the picture of his talks with the Israeli leadership and that he has great confidence that the truce in Gaza is imminent and that he wants to make use of it to launch negotiations with Lebanon aimed at consolidating the ceasefire that will certainly take place (in south Lebanon) after the truce in Gaza,” the daily quoted sources as saying.

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Jumblat asks why doesn't Hochstein call for ceasefire in Lebanon

As International mediators gathered for a third day of talks with Hamas in Cairo to discuss a plan for a six-week truce in Gaza, former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat asked why wouldn't the U.S. call for a similar cease-fire in Lebanon.

"If U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is asking for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, why wouldn't U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein do the same for a Lebanon," Jumblat posted Tuesday on the X platform.

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Mikati says Lebanon studying Hochstein's proposal

Lebanon is studying a verbal proposal by U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein who visited the country Monday in an attempt to tamp down tensions on the Lebanese-Israeli border, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said.

"We have questions and we are waiting for answers from the U.S. envoy," Mikati told al-Jadeed in an interview on Tuesday evening.

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Report: Hochstein offers Lebanon economic incentives

U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein has offered Lebanon “economic incentives” during his visit this week to Beirut, a Lebanese source said.

“The incentives are related to U.S. guarantees for importing gas from Egypt and electricity from Jordan, which means exempting Lebanon from the Caesar Act sanctions imposed on Syria’s government and speeding up exploration operations in Lebanon’s waters,” the source told Kuwait’s al-Anbaa newspaper.

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Family of three killed in Israel strike on Houla

A family of three, a father, his wife and their son were killed Tuesday in an Israeli strike on a house in the southern border village of Houla.

The National News Agency said the three killed were civilians but Hezbollah later announced the death of the father, Hassan Hussein, and his 25-year-old son, Ali Hussein, "on the road to Jerusalem" -- the phrase used for Hezbollah fighters killed by Israel.

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Gallant tells Hochstein Israel committed to diplomacy but may resort to military action

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday held talks with U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein, who had visited Lebanon on Monday as he seeks to mediate a solution for the Israel-Hezbollah border conflict.

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Moderation Bloc's presidential initiative hinging on 'Hezbollah's answers'

Monday’s meeting between the National Moderation Bloc and Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc did not lead to setting a date for a consultative parliamentary meeting that would kickstart the Moderation Bloc’s initiative that is aimed at securing the election of a new president, media reports said.

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Mikati says only way to peace is 'deterring Israel'

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati called Tuesday on the international community to stop Israel's agressions and to work on peaceful solutions for the region.

"In order for this region to know peace and prosperity, Israeli aggressions against southern Lebanon and Gaza must stop [...] and Israel must be compelled to implement international resolutions, especially Resolution 1701," Mikati said, adding that "Israel must also withdraw from all the Lebanese territories that are still occupied."

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Raad: We have not used all our weapons yet

The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, MP Mohammad Raad, noted Tuesday that Hezbollah is “still committed to accuracy in the deterrence equations it has imposed on the Israeli enemy.”

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Berri lauds National Moderation bloc's presidential initiative

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is open to a presidential initiative by the National Moderation bloc.

"Their initiative is clear - there is no ambiguity,” Berri told al-Joumhouria, in remarks published Tuesday, adding that he has expressed "positivity" towards it.

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