BEIRUT (Dispatches) – The 
occupying regime of Israel mounted waves of pounding airstrikes in Beirut on Tuesday as its security cabinet discussed a ceasefire deal in Lebanon with its Hezbollah that could take effect as soon as Wednesday.
A senior Israeli official and Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib appeared optimistic a deal could be reached, clearing the way for an end to the Israeli aggression that has martyred thousands of people.
Despite the possibility of an imminent diplomatic breakthrough, hostilities raged as the Zionist regime sharply ramped up its campaign of airstrikes in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, with health authorities reporting at least 18 martyred.
A Hezbollah parliament member in Lebanon, Hassan Fadlallah, said the country faced “dangerous, sensitive hours” during the wait for a possible ceasefire announcement.
With Israel’s security cabinet meeting to discuss the deal, which a senior Israeli official had said was likely to be approved, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he would speak on Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT). 
The ceasefire could come into effect on Wednesday morning, triggering a 60-day truce, a Western diplomat said.
However, there was no indication that a truce in Lebanon would hasten a ceasefire and captives-release deal in devastated Gaza, where Israel is carrying a campaign of genocide. 
The agreement requires Israeli troops to withdraw from south Lebanon and Lebanon’s army to deploy in the region, officials say.  
Bou Habib said the Lebanese army would be ready to have at least 5,000 troops deployed in southern Lebanon as Zionist troops withdraw, and that the United States could play a role in rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by Israeli strikes.
Israeli warplanes launched repeated strikes across Beirut throughout Tuesday, mostly in the southern suburbs. A single cluster of strikes in Beirut that Israel’s military said included attacks on 20 targets in just 120 seconds killed at least seven people and injured 37, Lebanon’s health ministry said.
Strikes also targeted Tyre, in the south, and Baalbek, in the east.
Zionist military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the air force was conducting a “widespread attack” across the city.
Hezbollah has kept up rocket fire into Israeli occupied territories and has previously said it would respond to attacks on central Beirut by firing rockets at Tel Aviv. Sirens sounded in northern territories and the Israeli military 
said five projectiles were identified coming from Lebanon.
Hezbollah launched some 250 rockets on Sunday in one of its heaviest barrages yet. The northern city of Nahariya came under more rocket fire overnight.
“Regarding the ceasefire, I think it will be implemented. Both sides are tired,” said Selim Ayoub, a 37-year-old mechanic from Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Diplomacy to end the Israeli aggression has focused on restoring a ceasefire based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, opens new tab, which ended the last major war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.
Zionist ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said on Monday that Israel would maintain an ability to strike southern Lebanon under any agreement.
Lebanon has previously objected to the occupying regime of Israel being granted such a liberty and Lebanese officials have said such language is not included in the draft proposal.
Two Israeli officials told Reuters that the occupying regime has a side agreement with the U.S. allowing it to take action in Lebanon against “imminent threats”.
Over the past year, more than 3,750 people have been martyred in Lebanon and over one million have been forced from their homes, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
A ceasefire would pave the way for 60,000 settlers to return to the north, which they evacuated as Hezbollah began firing rockets in support of Palestinians after their landmark Oct. 7, 2023 operation inside the Israeli occupied settlements.