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US Calls on Lebanese Govt to Take Action against Armed Groups

Rescue and firefighter teams work on the rubble of a destroyed building that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday March 28, 2025.(AP)
Rescue and firefighter teams work on the rubble of a destroyed building that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday March 28, 2025.(AP)
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US Calls on Lebanese Govt to Take Action against Armed Groups

Rescue and firefighter teams work on the rubble of a destroyed building that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday March 28, 2025.(AP)
Rescue and firefighter teams work on the rubble of a destroyed building that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday March 28, 2025.(AP)

The US State Department said on Friday Israel was defending itself from rocket attacks that came from Lebanon and that it was incumbent upon the Lebanese government to disarm militant groups such as Hezbollah.
The comment from a State Department spokesperson came in a press briefing when asked about Israel conducting its first strike on Beirut's southern suburbs - a Hezbollah stronghold known as Dahiyeh - since a shaky ceasefire deal was struck in November.
Israel's airstrike came after a rocket launch from Lebanon in the most serious test of the ceasefire.
The strike targeted a building in Dahiyeh that Israel said was a drone storage facility belonging to the Iranian-backed Shiite group.
"Israel is defending its people and interests by responding to rocket attacks from terrorists in Lebanon," the State Department spokesperson said.
"As part of the cessation of hostilities agreement, the government of Lebanon is responsible for disarming Hezbollah and we expect the Lebanese Armed Forces to disarm these terrorists to prevent further hostilities."
No group has claimed responsibility for the rocket fire from Lebanon. The Lebanese army said it was able to locate the launch site of Friday's rocket attacks and began an investigation.
Israel's war in Lebanon last year displaced more than 1.3 million people, destroyed much of the country's south and eliminated Hezbollah's top leadership.
Israel is separately engaged in a military assault on Gaza that has killed over 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, while also triggering accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies. Nearly Gaza's entire 2.3 million population has been internally displaced and the enclave faces a hunger crisis.
The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas fighters attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, Israeli tallies show.

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New Opportunity for Gaza Truce with Egyptian ‘Compromise’ Proposal

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellaty meets with a delegation from the Palestinian Fatah movement in Cairo. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellaty meets with a delegation from the Palestinian Fatah movement in Cairo. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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New Opportunity for Gaza Truce with Egyptian ‘Compromise’ Proposal

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellaty meets with a delegation from the Palestinian Fatah movement in Cairo. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellaty meets with a delegation from the Palestinian Fatah movement in Cairo. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt has come forward with a new proposal to the stalled ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, offering a potential path to de-escalation as Israel’s military campaign intensifies for a third consecutive week following the collapse of the previous truce.

This marks Egypt’s fourth ceasefire initiative in under a month. According to Israeli media, the new proposal aims to "bridge the gaps" between previous plans—Egyptian, American, and Israeli—that failed to gain consensus.

Experts told Asharq Al-Awsat the effort may offer a renewed opportunity for calm ahead of the Jewish Passover holiday, which begins on April 20, especially in light of an upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, where Washington may exert pressure for a compromise.

On Saturday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellaty held talks with a high-level Palestinian delegation from Fatah, headed by Central Committee Secretary Jibril Rajoub. The meeting, which included National Council head Rawhi Fattouh and former Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, focused on "the dangerous Israeli escalation and Egypt’s efforts to restore a ceasefire and expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid," according to a statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry.

While Abdellaty did not disclose details of the latest proposal, Israel’s public broadcaster reported on Friday that Egypt had submitted a new plan aimed at resolving disputes over the ceasefire and prisoner exchange. The proposal reportedly lies somewhere between previous terms—namely, the release of five live Israeli captives proposed by mediators, and Israel’s demand for the return of 11 hostages alive from Gaza.

Negotiations to reinstate the truce, which collapsed on March 18 after nearly two months, have floundered in recent weeks. Among the key proposals was a US plan floated by Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, on March 13, which sought a ceasefire lasting until April 20 and included the release of 10 hostages. Hamas, however, only agreed to release dual national Idan Alexander.

Days later, Egypt proposed that Hamas release five live hostages, including one American-Israeli citizen, in exchange for Israel permitting humanitarian aid into Gaza, a week-long pause in fighting, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners—according to the Associated Press.

On March 29, Israel presented its own revised plan, coordinated with the US, offering a 40-to-50-day truce in exchange for the return of roughly half of the 24 hostages believed to still be alive, and the remains of about half of the 35 believed dead.

Dr. Ahmed Fouad Anwar, a member of Egypt’s Council for Foreign Affairs and an expert on Israeli affairs, described Egypt’s latest initiative as "a new chance to bridge gaps and revive talks." He added that the plan may offer a "middle ground that could satisfy both parties," but its success hinges on American pressure on Israel.

Palestinian political analyst Dr. Husam al-Dajani echoed this view, describing the proposal as a step toward ending the crisis. "Any plan that halts the genocide will be accepted by the Palestinian resistance," he said, though he warned that Netanyahu remains the main obstacle. "Ending the war is not his priority, and he may stall or set new conditions."

Three Israeli officials told Axios on Saturday that Netanyahu is expected to visit the White House on Monday to meet with Trump. The president had hinted days earlier that Netanyahu would soon visit Washington and reiterated his commitment to resolving "the Gaza problem," following talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi last week.

On Saturday, Sisi also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, stressing the "urgent need to restore calm through an immediate ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian aid delivery," according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.

Meanwhile, Witkoff is set to travel to the region this week. According to Axios, he is scheduled to meet in Abu Dhabi with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who leads Israel’s negotiation team. Witkoff may also visit Doha or Cairo, depending on developments in the talks over a Gaza deal.