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The U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, under pressure from an Israeli military campaign against Hezbollah in its area of operations, says Argentina has asked three of its officers in the contingent to return home, while all other contributing countries are maintaining their commitments.
Spokesman Andrea Tenenti of UNIFIL said its “operational capabilities have not changed” after the move by Argentina, and U.N. forces have not moved from their positions -- despite the Israeli army asking them to move from positions near the “blue line” along the Lebanon-Israel border about a month ago.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Tuesday told visiting U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein that “the government’s priority is reaching a ceasefire, ending the aggression against Lebanon and preserving Lebanese sovereignty across all Lebanese territory.”

Hezbollah swiftly announced the postponement of its chief Sheikh Naim Qassem's speech after saying in a previous statement that he would give a speech on Tuesday.
The statement and the postponement came as U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein visited Beirut seeking an end to the Israel-Hezbollah war.

U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein said he was in Beirut on Tuesday because he saw "a real opportunity" to end the Israel-Hezbollah war raging for two months after nearly a year of clashes.

An Israeli source familiar with the Lebanese ceasefire talks has cast doubt on the likelihood of an imminent deal, in remarks to CNN.

The U.N. said Tuesday that over 200 children have been killed in Lebanon in the less than two months since Israel escalated its attacks across Lebanon.
"Despite more than 200 children killed in Lebanon in less than two months, a disconcerting pattern has emerged: their deaths are met with inertia from those able to stop this violence," James Elder, spokesman for the U.N. children's agency UNICEF, told reporters in Geneva.

A U.S. envoy has arrived in Beirut to meet with Lebanese officials about a possible cease-fire in the Israel-Hezbollah war.
Amos Hochstein, a senior advisor to United States President Joe Biden, arrived Tuesday, a day after Hezbollah reportedly gave a positive response to a U.S. draft proposal to end the war, which has been ongoing for more than 13 months.

G20 leaders called for "comprehensive" ceasefires in both Gaza and Lebanon in a joint statement at a summit in Brazil on Monday.
The leaders of the world's biggest economies called for a U.S.-proposed permanent ceasefire in Gaza in return for the release of all hostages, as well as a Lebanon ceasefire "that enables citizens to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line."

Hezbollah launched explosive-laden drones at military targets in Tel Aviv, as Israeli rescuers said five people were injured by rocket fire in the city suburbs.
Hezbollah fighters launched an "air attack with a squadron of qualitative attack drones on sensitive military points - which will be announced later - in the city of Tel Aviv," the group said in a statement.

U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein traveled to Beirut on Monday in an effort to finalize a ceasefire agreement that would end the war between Israel and Hezbollah, U.S. officials told U.S. news portal Axios.
