Israel gives the US its demands for ending war in Lebanon, Axios reports

Israel gave the United States a document last week with its conditions for a diplomatic solution to end the war in Lebanon, Axios reported on Sunday, citing two US officials and two Israeli officials.

Israel has demanded its forces be allowed to engage in "active enforcement" to make sure Hezbollah doesn't rearm and rebuild its military infrastructure close to the border, Axios reported, citing an Israeli official.

Israel also demanded its air force have freedom of operation in Lebanese air space, the report added.

A U.S. official told Axios it was highly unlikely that Lebanon and the international community would agree to Israel's conditions.

The White House could not be immediately reached outside regular business hours. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond.

The embassies of Israel and Lebanon in Washington did not immediately respond.

White House special envoy Amos Hochstein is visiting Beirut on Monday to discuss a diplomatic solution to the conflict, the report added.

After his arrival, Hochstein said that the United States was working with both Israel and Lebanon to find a formula that would end their conflict for good.

UN resolution 1701, which ended the last round of conflict between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah in 2006, calls for southern Lebanon to be free of any troops or weapons other than those of the Lebanese state.

The Iranian-backed Shi'ite movement did not end its presence, however.

Hochstein, visiting Lebanon for the second time in two months, was holding talks with Lebanese officials in a new U.S. mediation push to bring peace to the Middle East after Israel killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week.

"Both sides simply committing to (U.N. resolution) 1701 is not enough," Hochstein told a press conference.

"We are working with government of Lebanon, the state of Lebanon, as well as the government of Israel to get to a formula that brings an end to this conflict once and for all."