Reports: US mediates to give Lebanon Qana field, negotiations to resume soon

A major progress is expected in the negotiations over the sea border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel, according to media reports and to both Lebanese and Israelis.

Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar said Friday that Washington has been assuring the Lebanese political forces, through continuous talks, that Israel and the U.S. are not seeking escalation and that they are committed to resuming the negotiations.

The daily added, as it quoted informed sources, that the U.S. will try to convince Israel to give Lebanon the Qana field, "without any compensation in return."

On Saturday, Hezbollah had launched three unarmed reconnaissance drones towards the offshore Karish gas field and Israel said it shot them down.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati later condemned the drones' launching.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper said Friday that the official Lebanese position has been unified in the recent hours, as high-level politicians have discussed the drones incident during lengthy meetings.

"They have agreed that all the statements will serve Lebanon's interest in the negotiations," the report said, adding that the negotiations with U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein will officially resume in the coming days.