U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein during a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Jan. 11, 2024, at the Grand Serail in Beirut. (Credit: Joseph Eid/AFP Archives Photo)
BEIRUT — The office of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati denied a report that claimed the U.S. asked Lebanon to declare a unilateral cease-fire, according to Reuters.
Citing a senior Lebanese political source and a senior diplomat, Reuters initially reported that U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein asked Lebanon this week to declare a unilateral cease-fire with Israel as part of an effort to help negotiations to reach a resolution for the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel that has been ongoing since Oct. 8, 2023.
The sources added that such an announcement was "seen as a non-starter in Lebanon, where it would likely be equated with a surrender."
Immediately after the release of the report, Mikati's office denied that the U.S. had asked Lebanon to declare a unilateral cease-fire.
In a statement to Reuters, Mikati's office said the "government's stance was clear on seeking a ceasefire from both sides and the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701."