BEIRUT: Lebanon has welcomed a proposal to establish a deconfliction cell aimed at halting military operations in the country, but officials say any such mechanism must lead to a lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Lebanese territory. The proposal emerged from US-Iran talks held in Switzerland and was announced in a joint statement by mediators Qatar and Pakistan.

Negotiators for the US and Qatar work out the deal with help from Iran

A joint statement issued by the mediators of the US-Iran negotiations said the parties had agreed to establish a de-confliction cell aimed at supporting the implementation of the…