The US government is making intense efforts to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon, but the State Department spokesman clarified that no agreement has yet been reached.

The clarification was made by Matthew Miller during the regular briefing of the representatives of the press, on the occasion of the information about the lifting of the impasse in the negotiations. According to well-informed sources in Beirut, the presidents of the US and France are expected to announce within 36 hours the reaching of a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel.

“We don’t think we have an agreement yet. We believe we are close to an agreement. We believe that we have bridged the gap significantly, but there are still steps to be taken. We hope we can get there,” the State Department spokesman said.

The US is pushing for an agreement between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah to end the fighting that broke out in October 2023 alongside the war against Palestinian Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Conflicts in Lebanon have escalated significantly over the past two months.

Signs of an imminent ceasefire deal have been accompanied by a heavy wave of Israeli airstrikes in areas of Lebanon considered Hezbollah strongholds.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on reports of an agreement on a ceasefire plan. However, a top Israeli official told Reuters news agency that the plan would be considered at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.