The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, is expected to travel to Israel early next week.
The visit is part of a series of diplomatic initiatives being taken to try to find a way of ending the week-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants.
Ms Rice will hold talks on the crisis with the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, tomorrow when Mr Annan will also brief the UN Security Council on the work of three envoys sent to the Middle East last week.
It is understood the envoys will suggest the deployment of Lebanese troops in southern Lebanon and enlarging an international force there to try to end the fighting.
However, it is being stressed that these measures do not have the agreement of Israel, Lebanon or Hezbollah.
