Lebanese sources reported a breakthrough in negotiations Monday, indicating an imminent agreement to halt cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, while US officials confirmed through Axios that both sides have reached terms for a ceasefire. The Israeli security cabinet is scheduled to convene Tuesday to discuss ratifying the agreement.
A crucial meeting took place Sunday night at the Prime Minister's Office, attended by senior defense officials – Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, where final details of the ceasefire agreement were finalized. Israel has decided to proceed with the deal imminently, with a senior political source indicating it is "a matter of days, possibly less, until a settlement agreement with Lebanon is signed."
However, Lebanon's Al-Akhbar newspaper reported Monday morning that the ceasefire negotiations remain complicated by multiple contradictions. The publication described a complex situation where reports of significant diplomatic progress coincide with accounts of substantial obstacles impeding implementation.
Following an operational assessment, the IDF Home Front Command announced Monday it will impose stricter civilian protection measures along the northern border region starting at 6 p.m., shifting from partial to restricted activity protocols. The increased restrictions come as officials anticipate a possible surge in Hezbollah attacks in the hours before any ceasefire agreement is signed.
Under the proposed agreement terms, the IDF would complete a full withdrawal from Lebanese territory within a 60-day timeframe. During this period, US military personnel would oversee the deployment of Lebanese armed forces in southern Lebanon and supervise Hezbollah's repositioning north of the Litani River.
