US President Biden Announces Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon, Israeli PM Netanyahu is Ready
US President Joe Biden has announced that Israel and Lebanon have reached a ceasefire agreement.
‘Today I have good news from the Middle East. I spoke with the prime ministers of Lebanon and Israel. And I am pleased to report that they have accepted the United States‘ proposal to end the destructive conflict between Israel and Hezbollah,’ Biden said.
He added that the United States expects the ceasefire to be permanent.
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon came into effect on Wednesday at 4:00 am. The ceasefire ended nearly 14 months of Hezbollah-initiated hostilities on the northern border, which began the day after the 7 October 2023 Hamas terrorist attack in southern Israel.
The agreement, which was approved by Israel's National Security Cabinet by a vote of 10 ministers to one on Tuesday evening, reportedly provides for a 60-day transition period during which the IDF will withdraw from southern Lebanon and the Lebanese army will deploy about 5,000 troops south of the Litani River, including at 33 posts along the border with Israel.
Hezbollah forces will leave southern Lebanon, and its military infrastructure will be dismantled. The United States has also reportedly provided an additional letter outlining Israel's rights to respond to ceasefire violations, if any.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that he was ready to implement the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon and would respond harshly to any violations by Hezbollah, Reuters reports.
The agreement was brokered by the United States and France.