US Proposes 60-Day Lebanon Ceasefire to Enforce Resolution 1701

The United States has detailed a multi-stage diplomatic framework intended to secure a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Led by US envoy Amos Hochstein, the proposal centers on a 60-day cessation of hostilities to allow for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict. Transition Period and Troop Withdrawal The primary mechanism of the plan involves a two-month transitional phase. During this period, Hezbollah forces are required to withdraw their heavy weaponry and personnel north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the Blue Line. Simultaneously, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would execute a phased withdrawal from Lebanese territory occupied during recent ground operations. To fill the security vacuum, the plan mandates the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) into southern Lebanon. Current estimates suggest a requirement of 5,000 to 10,000 Lebanese soldiers to secure the region alongside UNIFIL peacekeepers. This surge in domestic military presence is designed to ensure that the southern border remains exclusively under the control of the Lebanese state. International…