US asked Lebanon to declare unilateral ceasefire with Israel: Report

A US envoy this week asked Lebanon to declare a unilateral ceasefire with Israel as part of an effort to help negotiations resolve the more than year-long conflict, a senior Lebanese political source and a senior diplomat told Reuters.

The sources said the effort was communicated by US envoy Amos Hochstein to Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

But such an announcement was seen as a non-starter in Lebanon, the sources said, where it would likely be equated with a surrender.