Report: Aoun asks Hezbollah through Berri to cease fire if Israel does

Direct contacts have taken place between Baabda Palace and Ain el-Tineh, and indirect contacts have been made with Hezbollah, through Speaker Nabih Berri, to persuade the Iran-backed group to agree to a ceasefire if Israel does in the Thursday-Friday talks in Washington, a media report said.

As of last night, Berri had not received a response from Hezbollah, so Baabda's internal and external contacts will intensify today, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Wednesday.

"The Lebanese state is attempting to pressure Hezbollah to commit to this process, while contacts with Washington are focused on persuading it to de-escalate the situation," the daily added.