US envoy reports progress in cease-fire talks between Israel, Hezbollah

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein cited additional progress on Wednesday in talks aimed at reaching a cease-fire between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Speaking after his talks with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, Hochstein said he would depart to Israel for cease-fire talks with officials there.

“The meeting today built on the meeting yesterday and made additional progress, so I will travel from here in a couple of hours to Israel to try to bring this to a close if we can,” he told a press conference.

Hochstein mentioned that, as planned, he would visit Israel if progress is made. He added that discussions with the incoming U.S. administration are already underway, and they will be fully informed of all actions being taken.

On Tuesday, the U.S. envoy said that a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah to end their conflict was “within grasp.”

The U.S., Israel’s main ally, is mediating between Tel Aviv and Beirut to reach a cease-fire deal aimed at ending over a year of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

Israel kills nearly 1,500 people in Lebanon

Israel has engaged in cross-border warfare with Lebanon, launching an air campaign in late September against what it claims are Hezbollah targets.

More than 3,500 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with nearly 15,000 injured and more than a million displaced since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Tel Aviv expanded the conflict by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1 this year.