An eleven-nation coalition led by the United States has called for a three-week ceasefire in the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon, the Associated Press reports, pushing for a de-escalation of violence and an opportunity to broaden peace talks in the region.
“We call for an immediate 21-day cease-fire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy,” the statement reads. “We call on all parties, including the Governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary cease-fire immediately,” adding “We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that ends this crisis altogether,”
The statement, negotiated while diplomats are in New York for the UN General Assembly, was signed by officials from the US and eleven European allies, comes after some unknown organization undertook covert attacks on Hezbollah leaders through explosives in pagers and walkie-talkies.