US officials: Hezbollah must agree to a ceasefire first.

afp__20260531__b4ju263__v1__highres__lebanonisraeliranuswar.jpg — A man walks through a devastated area following an Israeli airstrike in the city of Tyre (southern Lebanon) on May 31. Photo: AFP

On June 1st, citing an unnamed senior US official, AFP reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had separate telephone conversations with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss ongoing negotiation efforts.

To facilitate negotiations, Washington presented a clear roadmap. The primary requirement was that Hezbollah cease all attacks on Israeli territory. In return, the Israeli military would exercise restraint and refrain from escalating its military campaign in Beirut, Lebanon.

Sources from the US reveal that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has been trying to push forward Washington's proposal. However, the attitude of Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an influential figure believed to have close ties to Hezbollah, was deemed "evasive and disappointing" by the US.

To date, negotiations remain deadlocked as Hezbollah firmly maintains its position: Israel must be the first to end hostilities.

Commenting on this, US officials criticized the opposing side's stance, arguing that Hezbollah is acting under Tehran's leadership. "The quickest way to de-escalate tensions and protect civilians on all sides is for Hezbollah to order an immediate ceasefire," the Washington representative emphasized.

The statements from the US come at a time when the Middle East continues to witness worrying developments. Most recently, on May 31, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would continue to push forces further into Lebanese territory.

Faced with escalating conflict that threatened to spiral out of control, France called for and urged the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on June 1st.

Despite the tough rhetoric on the ground, diplomatic efforts are continuing. An indirect round of talks between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled to take place in Washington on June 2nd and 3rd.

While leaders are still searching for common ground at the negotiating table, the humanitarian cost is steadily increasing. According to statistics from the Lebanese Ministry of Health, Israeli attacks since the beginning of March 2026 have claimed the lives of more than 3,412 people and forced over 1 million Lebanese citizens to flee their homes.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/quan-chuc-my-hezbollah-phai-chap-nhan-ngung-ban-truoc-10339055.html