Lebanon optimistic on reaching maritime border deal with Israel

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said on Friday there is more optimism than ever on reaching a deal to delineate the country's maritime border with Israel via U.S. mediation, according to a tweet from the ministry's account.

"There has never been optimism to the extent that there is today," Bou Habib said, noting that a U.S. official mediating the dispute would arrive in Beirut over the wekeend for talks with Lebanese officials.