Lebanon's Prime Minister on Biden's Guarantee

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati has told Al Jazeera that he has received assurances from the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden that Israeli strikes in Beirut and its suburbs will decrease.

"We want a ceasefire," Mikati added.

Israeli media have reported in recent days that U.S. pressure has compelled Israel to reduce its strikes on targets of the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon's capital. Israeli officials have denied this information, insisting that Israel retains the freedom to act as necessary.

For more than two weeks, Israel has been conducting ground operations in southern Lebanon while simultaneously carrying out airstrikes, claiming to be fighting against Hezbollah. The group, in turn, has been launching rocket attacks into Israeli territory.