BEIRUT − According to a top Lebanese official speaking to Reuters, Lebanon and the militant group Hezbollah have accepted a ceasefire proposal from the United States, marking a significant step towards halting weeks of ongoing conflict and Israeli airstrikes.

The Lebanese health ministry reported that an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut killed five individuals on Monday. This incident marks the second consecutive day of Israeli attacks in the capital, intensifying its offensive against Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.

Smoke billowed from the strike in the crowded Zuqaq al-Blat neighborhood, close to where the Lebanese government operates. The ministry reported two individuals were still missing and another 31 sustained injuries from the attack.

Israel’s bombings around Beirut have escalated over the past week, while Hezbollah has continued to launch missiles into Israel, despite ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the fighting.

A diplomatic source familiar with the negotiations noted that some aspects still require resolution, which could delay a final agreement.

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein is expected to arrive in Beirut soon, as per a U.S. source information shared with Reuters.

Since late September, Israel has inflicted severe losses on Hezbollah, including the killing of its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, and the deployment of troops in the southern region.

In the evening, rocket sirens were activated across Tel Aviv and much of central Israel.

Shrapnel from an intercepted missile fell onto a busy street in a Tel Aviv suburb, the Israeli military stated, which is currently investigating the incident. This blast injured six, including a 54-year-old woman who is reported to be in serious condition.

Hezbollah announced that it had carried out a series of drone strikes targeting “critical military installations” in Tel Aviv.

Earlier, an Israeli woman lost her life when a rocket hit a building in Shfaram, located in northern Israel, according to the country’s ambulance service. The Israeli military confirmed that approximately five projectiles were launched from Lebanon.

Since initiating its offensive in September, most of Israel’s airstrikes have been directed at Hezbollah’s strongholds in southern Beirut.

On Sunday, Israel conducted strikes within the city limits of Beirut for the first time in over five weeks, resulting in the deaths of 10 individuals in two separate incidents, including a prominent Hezbollah media figure.

Israel’s military actions began after nearly a year of escalating tensions with Hezbollah, with the stated aim of diminishing the group’s military power and facilitating the return of tens of thousands of displaced Israelis from the north.

In solidarity with Hamas since the Gaza conflict erupted more than a year ago, Hezbollah has been launching rockets at Israel. Israel’s military actions have displaced over 1 million people in Lebanon in the last eight weeks.

World leaders emphasize that any ceasefire should align with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which concluded the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. This resolution mandates Hezbollah to relocate its weapons and fighters north of the Litani River, approximately 30 km (20 miles) from the Israeli border.

Conditions for Ceasefire

Hochstein, who has made several attempts at ceasefire negotiations over the past year without success, expressed optimism last week regarding the potential for an agreement.

Ali Hassan Khalil, a representative for Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, stated that Lebanon submitted its written feedback to the U.S. ambassador in Beirut on Monday.

Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, has endorsed its longstanding ally Berri to lead the negotiations for a ceasefire.

“All our remarks affirm strict adherence to (U.N.) Resolution 1701 in all its aspects,” Khalil stated.

He added that the effectiveness of this initiative now hinges on Israel’s response, warning that if Israel is not cooperative, it could raise numerous complications.

Israel has not yet commented on Lebanon’s latest evaluation of the ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Berri indicated earlier on Monday that there was a hopeful atmosphere surrounding the talks but urged caution against becoming overly optimistic, as conveyed by Labour Minister Mustafa Bayram after his meeting with Berri.

According to Lebanese authorities, Israel’s military operations have resulted in the deaths of 3,481 individuals in Lebanon since the conflict escalated, with the majority of casualties occurring since late September. The reported figures do not differentiate between armed fighters and non-combatants.

In northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Hezbollah attacks have resulted in the deaths of 43 civilians. Additionally, Israeli military reports indicate that 73 soldiers have lost their lives due to strikes in northern Israel, in the Golan Heights, and during fighting in southern Lebanon.