Amos Hochstein, a top U.S. envoy to the Middle East, arrived in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, on Tuesday as efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah appeared to be intensifying.

A senior U.S. official said on Tuesday there was a "real opportunity" to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and that gaps were narrowing, signalling progress in Washington's efforts to clinch a ceasefire agreement.

US Middle East mediator Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut early Tuesday in an effort to finalize a ceasefire agreement that would end the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah, a government source said and state media reported.