US envoys in Israel to seek Lebanon truce plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met visiting US officials Thursday to discuss a possible deal to end Israel's war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Netanyahu told Washington envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk that any Lebanon deal must guarantee Israel's longer-term scrutiny. "The prime minister specified that the main issue is not paperwork for this or that deal, but Israel's determination and capacity to ensure the deal's application and to prevent any threat to its security from Lebanon," Netanyahu's office said.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also met the Americans for a separate discussion. He said in a statement their talks focused on "security arrangements as these relate to the northern arena and Lebanon, and efforts to ensure the return of 101 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza".