Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has appeared to encourage Tehran to convince Hezbollah, which it supports, to agree to a deal that could require the militant group to withdraw from the Israel-Lebanon border.

As a top adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei visited Lebanon for talks, Lebanese officials said a U.S. proposal for a cease-fire deal had been passed on to Hezbollah.

A top Iranian official has pledged his country's unwavering support for Lebanon after talks with Lebanese leaders on the Israel-Hezbollah war.

By Riham Alkousaa and Ari Rabinovitch BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Diplomacy aimed at securing a ceasefire in Lebanon showed tentative signs of progress on Thursday as Israel pounded its northern neighbour including heavy airstrikes on the stronghold of armed group Hezbollah near Beirut.

Israel carried out more strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon Friday, leveling a building in Beirut. The attack comes as a top Iranian official is vowing to support the Lebanese and the U.S. pushes for a cease-fire.

Iran backs any decision taken by Lebanon in its negotiations with Israel to secure a ceasefire deal, a senior Iranian official said on Friday, indicating Tehran’s interest in ending a conflict that has significantly impacted its Lebanese ally,