U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein is scheduled to meet with Lebanese officials in Beirut on Monday to discuss the conditions necessary for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, according to two sources who spoke to Reuters. This meeting comes as Israel has intensified its airstrikes on Hezbollah assets overnight.

Hochstein is expected to advocate for de-escalation following a year of conflict that has seen Israel eliminate key figures from both Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. The U.S. has reiterated its steadfast support for Israel, even as the death toll continues to rise.

During a visit to Kyiv, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the advanced anti-missile system has been deployed to Israel and is now “in place.” While he did not confirm whether the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, known as THAAD, is currently operational, he stated, “We have the ability to put it into operation very quickly and we’re on pace with our expectations.”

In the meantime, Israel conducted airstrikes on locations in Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley, which it claims are utilized by Hezbollah for funding its operations. In anticipation of the strikes, hundreds of families evacuated their homes near the targeted areas, with no casualties reported.

Israel has reportedly provided the United States with a document outlining its conditions for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, according to Axios, which cited two U.S. officials and two Israeli officials.

The Israeli government has insisted that its military be permitted to conduct “active enforcement” operations to prevent Hezbollah from rearming and reconstructing its military capabilities near the border, as stated by an Israeli official. Additionally, Israel seeks unrestricted access for its air force to operate within Lebanese airspace. A U.S. official expressed skepticism to Axios, indicating that it is improbable that Lebanon and the international community would accept Israel’s stipulations.

U.S. envoy Hochstein is scheduled to meet with Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday. Berri mentioned to Al-Arabiya over the weekend that Hochstein’s visit represents “the last chance before the U.S. elections” to establish a ceasefire, asserting that he would oppose any modifications to United Nations resolution 1701, which concluded the previous conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.

The cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reignited a year ago when the group began firing rockets in support of Hamas in Gaza. In early October, Israel initiated a ground offensive in Lebanon to secure the border area for its citizens who had evacuated due to rocket fire in northern Israel. The Israeli military has also targeted and killed prominent Hezbollah leaders, including the group’s long-time chief, Hassan Nasrallah, who was eliminated in an airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The United States and regional authorities have spent the past year attempting to establish a ceasefire in Gaza, but these initiatives have not yielded results. This has led Lebanese officials and numerous diplomats to express doubts regarding the likelihood of achieving a truce in Lebanon.

FINANCIAL SITE AIR STRIKES

During the night, Reuters reporters observed thick black smoke rising into the sky following at least ten explosions in the suburbs of Beirut. Witnesses reported that panicked crowds filled the streets, leading to significant traffic congestion as people attempted to reach areas perceived as safer.\

Eyewitness accounts indicated that a building in the Chiyah neighborhood of southern Beirut was completely destroyed, but those in the vicinity had evacuated prior to the blast, resulting in no reported injuries.

An Israeli military spokesperson announced on the social media platform X that the military “will begin targeting infrastructure associated with the Hezbollah Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association – evacuate the area immediately.”
The Al-Qard al-Hassan organization, identified by the U.S. as a financial management entity for the Iran-backed Hezbollah, operates over 30 branches throughout Lebanon, including 15 in heavily populated regions of central Beirut and its suburbs.

There has been no immediate response from Hezbollah, the organization itself, or the Lebanese government.
When questioned by reporters about whether these branches could be classified as military targets, a senior Israeli intelligence official stated, “The aim of this strike is to undermine Hezbollah’s economic capabilities both during the conflict and in the aftermath, hindering their ability to rebuild and rearm.”

Israel has escalated its military operations in both Gaza and Lebanon following the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, which had raised hopes for potential ceasefire discussions to conclude over a year of ongoing conflict.
As U.S. elections draw near, officials, diplomats, and various sources in the region suggest that Israel is conducting military actions to secure its borders and prevent its adversaries from regrouping.

Additionally, Israel is preparing to respond to an Iranian missile attack that occurred earlier this month, although Washington has urged restraint regarding strikes on Iranian energy facilities or nuclear sites.