US envoy says end to Israel-Hezbollah war ‘within our grasp’

By Maya Gebeily and Riham Alkousaa

BEIRUT (Reuters) – A senior U.S. official said on Tuesday there was a “real opportunity” to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and that gaps were narrowing, signalling progress in Washington’s efforts to clinch a ceasefire agreement.

Amos Hochstein spoke in Beirut following talks with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a day after the Lebanese government and Iran-backed Hezbollah agreed to a U.S. ceasefire proposal, albeit with some comments on the content.

“I came back because we have a real opportunity to bring this conflict to an end,” Hochstein said at a press conference after the meeting.

“This is a moment of decision-making. I am here in Beirut to facilitate that decision but it’s ultimately the decision of the parties to reach a conclusion to this conflict,” he added.

“It is now within our grasp… As the window is now, I hope the coming days yield a resolute decision,” he said.

The head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, Naim Qassem, will give a speech on Tuesday, Hezbollah’s media office said, minutes after Hochstein made his remarks about a “real opportunity” to end the conflict.

The conflict between Israel and the heavily-armed Hezbollah spiralled into all-out war in late September, when Israel launched a major offensive against the group.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Kevin Liffey, William Maclean)