Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Begins; Here Is What To Know (image @IrnaEnglish)
Hezbollah and Israel agreed upon a ceasefire. It came into affect hours after the US President Joe Biden said that a proposal to end the “devastating” conflict had been reached. The ceasefire started at 4:00 am local time on Wednesday. From Lebanon’s side, the ceasefire agreement was mediated by Lebanese parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri. Hezbollah, who did not directly participated in the talk, is yet to make a formal comment.
Announcing that an agreement had been reached, Biden said, “The fighting across the Lebanese-Israeli border will end — will end. This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities”.
Today, I have good news to report from the Middle East.
I have spoken to the Prime Ministers of Lebanon and Israel. And I am pleased to announce:
They have accepted the United States’ proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
— President Biden (@POTUS) November 26, 2024
He said civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities and begin to rebuild their homes, their schools, their farms, their businesses and their very lives”.
Beirut’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati told Biden that he welcomed the deal to end the hostilities between Israeli Occupation Force (IOF), and Hezbollah, Lebanese militant group.
Also Read: A Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire Deal Is Close: Report
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also told the Biden that his government approved the truce and that he appreciated his “understanding that Israel will maintain its freedom of action in enforcing it”, said his office.
He said the truce will allow them to focus on Gaza and the “Iranian threat”. “When Hezbollah is out of the picture, Hamas is left alone in the fight. Our pressure on it will intensify,” Netanyahu said.
As part of the agreement, IOF will “gradually withdraw” its forces from southern Lebanon over the next 60 days, and the Lebanese Army and state security forces would deploy to the territory. Lebanese forces will begin their deployment towards the south over a 60-day period, during which Israel will have a phased withdrawal from Lebanese territory, an official said. The agreement also requires Hezbollah to retreat from the southern border and move up the Litani River.
Also Read: Hezbollah Launches 340 Missiles On Israel; Severe Damage In Tel Aviv
In a joint statement with France President Emmanuel Macron, Biden said both Israel and Lebanon “will work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure this arrangement is fully implemented and enforced”. The statement also added that both Washington and Paris are committed “to lead and support international efforts for capacity-building of the Lebanese Armed Forces as well as economic development throughout Lebanon to advance stability and prosperity in the region”.
Biden also pledged that he will “make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza” in his final days in office. He said he will work towards forging new normalisation agreements between Israel and several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia.
