Shea Levin — text status

The United States is negotiating with Lebanon's government over a ceasefire in southern Lebanon that would require Beirut to crack down on the Hezbollah terrorist organization, Lebanese diplomatic sources say. Nothing has been signed. The effort is meant to prevent an escalation that could derail American mediation with Tehran, since Iran has made an end to the fighting on every front one of its conditions. On Wednesday morning, Israeli warplanes struck two towns in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the American-brokered framework in August, opposing disarmament.