Hezbollah refuses to halt attacks on Israel, according to source close to group

BEIRUT — Hezbollah will not stop shelling northern Israel, a source close to the pro-Iranian group told AFP on Monday, in response to Israel's threats to strike Beirut's southern suburb if Hezbollah does not halt its attacks. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday that there would be "no calm" in Beirut and its suburbs without the cessation of Hezbollah's attacks.

An American official also said Sunday that the United States had proposed a plan under which "Hezbollah would have to end all its attacks on Israel. In return, Israel would refrain from any escalation in Beirut." "Hezbollah will not commit to stopping the shelling of northern" Israel, the source, who requested anonymity, said. "Why stop these strikes that hurt Israel when it is bombing Lebanon?"

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told the Trump administration on Sunday that Hezbollah is ready for a total and immediate cease-fire with Israel and has pledged to guarantee its implementation, according to Ali Hamdan, Berri’s chief adviser, cited by American outlet Axios. However, according to a source, U.S. officials told Berri that they do not believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would accept this option.

"The proposal we received was no Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel and that in return Israel will not bomb Beirut and then gradually the cease-fire will expand to other areas," Hamdan said. "Speaker Berri's reply was, 'Why a partial cease-fire ? Let's have a full cease-fire.'"

An Israeli official confirmed that Hezbollah had expressed willingness for a full cease-fire without demanding an immediate Israeli withdrawal. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Axios added.

The United States has for several weeks urged Israel not to strike Beirut as part of a broader de-escalation, but an American official hinted Sunday that this position could change. "The United States does not expect Israel to absorb continued attacks on its civilians by a terrorist organization," he told Axios.

On Monday, Benjamin Netanyahu issued a joint statement with his defense minister, Israel Katz, threatening to bomb Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s southern suburb "following repeated cease-fire violations." The Israeli army then called on residents of Beirut’s southern suburb to evacuate for their safety. "If Hezbollah continues to fire on our cities and communities, the Israeli military will respond by striking terrorist targets in Beirut’s southern suburb," the army said.