US ceasefire push to end Israel-Hezbollah war stalls as Tel Aviv ramps up offensive in Beirut: Report

Key points

• The latest US effort to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon has stalled as Israel widens its ground offensive and requests approval from Washington to carry out large-scale strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut.
• Citing sources, Axios reported on Monday that for the past several weeks, Washington had discouraged Tel Aviv from striking Beirut as part of a broader effort to lower tensions.
• However, a US official has now hinted that the stance could soften and added, “The US does not expect Israel to absorb ongoing attacks on its civilians by a terrorist organisation.” President Donald Trump's administration's de-escalation effort in Lebanon has been partially motivated by its desire to reach a deal with Iran, after Tehran listed an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah as one of the conditions in the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU).
• Marco Rubio speaks with Israeli PM, Lebanon's president US Secretary of State...