The latest U.S. effort to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon has stalled as Israel plans to expand its ground operations and seeks Washington’s approval for large-scale strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut, according to sources cited by Axios.

U.S. officials have for weeks urged Israel to avoid striking the capital as part of a broader push to contain the escalation. But one U.S. official indicated that the position could shift, saying Washington does not expect Israel “to absorb ongoing attacks on its civilians by a terrorist organization,” according to Axios.

The Trump administration’s parallel diplomatic track aimed at de-escalating the conflict in Lebanon has also been tied, in part, to broader efforts to reach an understanding with Iran. The emerging memorandum of understanding under discussion between Washington and Tehran reportedly includes provisions to halt fighting in Lebanon.

Despite those efforts, the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate, with the conflict expanding and raising concerns it could spiral further out of control.

Over the past 48 hours, Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate calls with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an attempt to advance a renewed ceasefire initiative, a U.S. official told Axios. A Lebanese official confirmed that Rubio had raised the proposal with Aoun.

The outline of the plan, according to the U.S. official, envisioned Hezbollah halting its missile and drone attacks on Israel in exchange for an Israeli commitment to refrain from escalating strikes in Beirut.

Aoun, according to the same source, expressed support for the initiative and asked Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to press Hezbollah to stop its attacks on Israel. However, the U.S. official said Berri responded in what was described as an “evasive and disappointing” manner, suggesting instead that Israel should halt fire first.

Rubio’s latest diplomatic push comes amid ongoing Israeli-Lebanese military discussions that have yet to produce a breakthrough. On Friday, military representatives from both countries met at the Pentagon to discuss possible ceasefire arrangements, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the disarmament of Hezbollah, and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces in southern Lebanon.

Further diplomatic talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials are expected later this week at the State Department.

However, a senior Lebanese official said neither Israel nor Hezbollah currently appears willing to commit to a ceasefire, adding that Washington has so far avoided taking firm steps to restrain Israeli escalation.

The official also argued that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been encouraging Hezbollah to intensify its operations in order to strengthen its leverage in broader U.S.-Iran negotiations.