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BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's shuttle diplomacy mission to the Mideast made a surprise stop in Beirut on Monday to discuss the crisis with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
"I am obviously here because we are deeply concerned about the Lebanese people and what they are enduring," Rice said in Beirut. "We are talking about the humanitarian situation, and we are also talking about a durable way to end the violence.
"President Bush wanted this to be my first stop -- here in Lebanon -- to express our desire to urgently find conditions in which we can end the violence and make life better for the Lebanese people."
White House spokesman Tony Snow said that later Monday, Rice would be announcing a "major U.S. commitment" of humanitarian supplies to begin arriving in Lebanon on Tuesday by helicopter and ship.
"We're working with Israel and with Lebanon to open up humanitarian corridors," Snow said during his daily briefing.
As they greeted each other on Monday, Siniora kissed Rice on both cheeks and said his country is hoping to "put an end to the war being inflicted on Lebanon," The Associated Press reported. (Watch Lebanon's president describe destruction in his nation -- 10:25)
Rice thanked the premier for his "courage and steadfastness," according to the AP.
Lebanon-based Hezbollah guerrillas traded more attacks Monday with Israeli forces, violence that was sparked July 12 after the capture of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid. (Watch how Israeli forces plan to expand Lebanon operations -- 1:40)
'Nothing to say'
After meeting for more than an hour, Rice and Siniora left without speaking to reporters, the AP reported. Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh emerged and told the press, "Nothing to say," according to AP.
Security surrounding Rice's visit to Lebanon's capital was tight: Sirens blaring, her long convoy sped past reporters, whisking her from the prime minister's office to that of parliamentary speaker Nabih Berry, who has close ties with Hezbollah and Syria. Berry was expected to transmit Hezbollah's viewpoint and possibly that of Syria.
After her meeting with Berry, Rice then left for Israel, where she was to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. She was also expected to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
U.S. officials are telling CNN's John King privately not to expect a cease-fire to come out of Rice's mission. Rice said last week that Hezbollah is the source of the problem in Lebanon and a cease-fire "will be a false promise if it returns us to the status quo."
She did not plan to meet with Hezbollah or with Syrian leaders during her trip.
Although Syria is thought to hold much influence with Hezbollah, the Bush administration has argued that direct talks with Syria would be pointless.
'Too many civilians are suffering'
Although Israel has promised safe passage for ships carrying aid to Lebanese ports, that does not guarantee the aid will reach those who need it.
On Monday, Jan Egeland, the U.N. relief coordinator, said his team does not have safe access to those trapped in the rest of Lebanon and in dire need of aid.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Friday that he feared a "major humanitarian disaster" if the conflict did not end soon.
Egeland said the bombing had made many roads impassable.
Egeland has also said the United Nations has no direct contact with Hezbollah, and can appeal to the group only "indirectly," through the media.
His agency has launched an appeal for nearly $150 million in aid to help the estimated 800,000 Lebanese who are displaced or in need of humanitarian assistance.
In an interview with CNN from Beirut, he appealed for a cease-fire.
"Too many civilians are suffering, both in northern Israel and here in Lebanon," he said.
Blair: It's a 'catastrophe'
In London, Prime Minister Tony Blair said officials "have been working very hard to put in place a plan that would allow ... the immediate cessation of hostilities.
"Of course, we all want to see this on both sides. It's important that it happen. It's important that it happen because what is occurring at the present time in Lebanon is a catastrophe. It is damaging that country and its fragile democracy. But it is also important that we deal with the reasons that this conflict has come about."
A senior U.S. State Department official said Monday that it was Rice's idea to stop in Beirut, despite the security risks, to show the Lebanese people "we are here, we are concerned."
"The fact that we are going to go right into Beirut after all that has happened is a dramatic signal to Lebanon and this government," the official said.
Before her arrival in Lebanon, Rice said the United States recognized the need for a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, but only when the conditions are right. (Watch U.N. official shocked by damage in Beirut -- 3:05)
"We believe that a cease-fire is urgent," Rice told reporters on a flight from Washington to a refueling stop in Ireland. "It is important, however, to have conditions that will make it sustainable."
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