US proposes new plan to ease Israel-Lebanon tensions amid fighting

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, proposing a plan for "gradual de-escalation" between Israel and Lebanon, according to a US official.

The proposal comes as Israeli troops continue advancing into Lebanese territory despite a ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago.

What does the US plan to ease Israel-Lebanon tensions involve?

The US proposal asks Hezbollah to halt all attacks on Israel as a first step. In exchange, Israel would refrain from escalating military action in Beirut.

The arrangement is designed to create conditions for a broader cessation of hostilities, according to the official.

How have Lebanese officials responded to the proposal?

Lebanese President Aoun moved to advance the plan and secure an agreement, according to the official. However, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who claimed to "guarantee" Hezbollah's commitment to a ceasefire, placed the burden on Israel to stop "shooting first."

The divergence between the two Lebanese officials reflects the difficulty of securing unified backing for any deal.

Why is Israel pushing deeper into Lebanon despite the ceasefire?

Netanyahu said Sunday he ordered troops to move further into Lebanon in the battle against Hezbollah, citing ongoing attacks on Israeli civilians. Israeli forces seized the 900-year-old Beaufort Castle and a strategic ridge in southern Lebanon, the military said.

The advance followed one of the heaviest days of Hezbollah fire toward northern Israel since the April ceasefire, forcing school closures and movement restrictions.

The US official said Washington did not expect Israel to absorb continued Hezbollah attacks on its civilian population, signaling American backing for Israeli military action if the proposal fails to gain traction.