The U.S. is planning to have its military train Lebanese counterparts to confront Hezbollah, according to a new report.
Israeli public broadcaster Kan detailed that the initiative has Israel's backing and its ultimate goal is to disarm the group, considered an Iran proxy.
The development comes as Israel has continued to strike Lebanon, saying it's targeting Hezbollah positions as the group attacks Israeli soldiers and communities.
Israel was set to escalate attacks on Monday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu anticipating strikes in the Dahieh, a Beirut suburb considered to be a Hezbollah stronghold.
The move was cancelled hours later after President Donald Trump held a tense call with Netanyahu. Axios detailed that the call took place after Iran threatened to walk out of negotiations as a results of the increased attacks.
A U.S. official said Trump's message could be summarized as such: "You're f--king crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this."
Another one described the U.S. president as "pissed" and at one point yelled "what the f--k are you doing?" at Netanyahu.
Shortly after the call Trump said he had a "very productive" call with Netanyahu and "and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back."
"Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop — That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel."
Trump also said on Monday that negotiations with Iran were "continuing at a rapid pace." Iranian officials have not reacted publicly to the developments.
Netanyahu, on his end, released a statement saying he told Trump Israel would target Beirut if Hezbollah did not stop attacking Israel, and would continue operations in southern Lebanon in the meantime. "Our position remains the same," reads a passage of the publication.
Iranian news agency IRNA also reported that Hezbollah committed to adhere to a ceasefire if Israel does so as well and withdraws from areas where troops have been moving to over the past weeks.
The Lebanese Embassy in Washington also said Hezbollah agreed the terms of a proposal for a "mutual cessation of attacks." But NBC News reported that clashes continued on Tuesday. The country's civil defense agency said on its Facebook page that Nabatieh, in the southern part of the country, was subject to "direct targeting as a result of a hostile Israeli airstrike." Israel told the outlet it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.
