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Middle East conflict

Hezbollah leader agreed to ceasefire before being killed, Lebanon’s foreign minister says

According to Abdallah Bou Habib, movement informed US and French representatives about the decision

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah AP Photo/ Vahid Salemi

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah

© AP Photo/ Vahid Salemi

BEIRUT, October 2. /TASS/. Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, before he was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, agreed to a ceasefire with Israel, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said on CNN.

"He agreed. Yes, the Lebanese side agreed. We consulted with Hezbollah, [Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih] Berri consulted with Hezbollah, and we informed US and French representatives [about the decision]," Bou Habib said.

On September 17 and 18, numerous explosions of communication devices and other electronic gadgets swept across Lebanon, setting off a new wave of escalation between Israel and Hezbollah. The Lebanese group blamed Israel for the incidents. On September 23, Israel started a military operation codenamed Northern Arrows against Hezbollah in Lebanon, carrying out widespread strikes at the group’s military sites. The stated goal is to create a secure environment in areas near the Israeli northern border, so that tens of thousands of people could return to their homes.

On September 26, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and Qatar called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border. The New York Times later reported, citing officials, that the ceasefire proposal could be adopted in the coming hours.

In a strike on September 27 Israel eliminated Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. Overnight into October 1, Israel announced the start of a ground operation in the border areas of southern Lebanon.

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Middle East conflict

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