NNA - Israel's security cabinet was set to discuss a proposed ceasefire in its war with Hezbollah in Lebanon on Tuesday afternoon, a senior official said, after the White House voiced optimism that a deal was close.

The United States, European Union and United Nations have pushed for a halt to the long-running hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated into full-scale war in late September.

As truce talks intensified, exchanges of cross-border fire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah have also increased, with Israel reporting around 250 projectiles launched at its territory on Sunday alone.

On Tuesday, strikes hit Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold shortly after the Israeli military called for people to evacuate.

AFPTV footage showed multiple plumes of smoke rising from the area, a day after the Lebanese health ministry said Israeli air strikes killed 31 people, mostly in southern Lebanon.

On the diplomatic front, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said on Tuesday that the security cabinet would meet later in the day to discuss a ceasefire deal, though she declined "to go into details about it because of the sensitivity of the issue".

An Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity had previously said the security cabinet would make its decision on Tuesday evening.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that the talks were progressing but not yet finalised, though they had reached a "point where we're close".

The United States and France have led the efforts to broker a ceasefire.

US news outlet Axios reported that the draft agreement included a 60-day transition period.

During that time, Israeli forces would withdraw, the Lebanese army would redeploy near the border and Hezbollah would move its heavy weapons north of the Litani River, Axios said.

A US-led committee would oversee implementation, with provisions allowing Israel to act against imminent threats if Lebanese forces failed to intervene.--AFP

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