Lebanon Readies 5,000 Troops for South as Truce Deal Nears

Lebanon’s caretaker Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, expressed hope on Tuesday that a ceasefire agreement to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could be reached later in the day. He stated that the Lebanese army was prepared to deploy at least 5,000 troops in southern Lebanon as Israeli forces begin their withdrawal.

Bou Habib also mentioned that the United States could play a significant role in helping to rebuild infrastructure that had been damaged by Israeli airstrikes.

On the same day, U.S. officials indicated that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah was imminent, although negotiations were still ongoing. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby confirmed that while they were close to an agreement, it had not been finalized yet.