BEIRUT, June 2 (Xinhua) -- A senior Hezbollah official said Tuesday that the group will not accept any partial ceasefire with Israel, refusing a reported U.S.-backed proposal demanding that Hezbollah halt attacks against northern Israel in exchange for Israel sparing Beirut's southern suburbs.
Mahmoud Qomati, deputy head of Hezbollah's political council, said any Israeli "aggression against" Beirut's southern suburbs could trigger "a deeper and stronger response" from Hezbollah, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported, citing Qomati's written statement received by AFP.
Qomati's remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he had secured commitments from Israel and Hezbollah aimed at easing regional tensions, and as a Monday Lebanese presidency statement, citing the Lebanese embassy in Washington, said Lebanese authorities had confirmed Hezbollah having agreed to a U.S. proposal for a "mutual cessation of attacks" with Israel.
A new round of direct Israel-Lebanon talks are taking place in Washington. However, Israel and Hezbollah have continued to trade attacks overnight and into Tuesday.
According to the NNA, at least 12 people were killed and four others wounded in Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon on Tuesday, whereas Hezbollah said it launched a series of overnight attacks against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said Tuesday that Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 have killed 3,468 people and injured 10,577 others.
