Israel and Lebanon have reached an agreement on Nov. 26, brokered by the United States, to end nearly 14 months of fighting.
“I just spoke with Prime Minister of Israel and Lebanon. I’m pleased to announce that the governments have accepted the United States proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah,” President Joe Biden in a White House address.
Biden said the ceasefire goes into effect at 4 a.m. local time on Nov. 27.
“This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities,” he added.
The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began on Oct. 8, 2023, just hours after Hamas attacked across southern Israel. Hezbollah first launched rockets targeting the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, to which Israel returned fire on Hezbollah positions across Lebanon.
The fighting has continued for more than a year, with either side primarily launching indirect fire and aerial strikes across the Israel-Lebanon border. The war took on a new phase when Israeli ground forces marched into southern Lebanon last month. Along with the ground incursion within Lebanon, Isreali forces have escalated their airstrikes across Lebanon in recent weeks.
The deal calls for Hezbollah to pull its forces away from the Israeli border. The Lebanese army will, in turn, deploy along Lebanon’s southern border to assume control over that part of the country. In the meantime, Israel will withdraw its troops from Lebanon over the course of 60 days.
The United States and France will also work with the Lebanese military, the Israeli military, and United Nations peacekeepers, to ensure compliance with the deal. Both Israel and Lebanon retain the right to self-defense, in response to any breaches of the peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reported his security cabinet approved the ceasefire deal in a 10-1 vote on Tuesday.
“Israel appreciates the US contribution to the process, and maintains its right to act against any threat to its security,” Netanyahu’s office added.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati also affirmed the ceasefire deal in a Tuesday statement.
Hezbollah has offered no direct comment in support or opposition to the ceasefire.
The Hezbollah-affiliated Al Manar TV station did, however, publish an article touting Netanyahu’s acceptance of the deal as an indirect admission that Israel has been exhausted by the fighting.
In a press statement Netanyahu made before his cabinet’s vote on the deal, he said the proposal would allow Israeli forces to rest and replenish their weapons stocks, and to refocus on the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and continued security challenges from Iran.
“And I say it openly, it is no secret that there have been big delays in weapons and munitions deliveries. These delays will be resolved soon. We will receive supplies of advanced weaponry that will keep our soldiers safe and give us more strike force to complete our mission,” Netanyahu said on Tuesday.
In a background press call, a senior Biden administration official said Hezbollah was not involved in the ceasefire negotiations, and Lebanon will have to take responsibility for compliance with the ceasefire within its borders. The senior administration official insisted Hezbollah has been weakened by the past year of fighting, and this deal represents an opportunity for the Lebanese government to reassert its authority within its sovereign borders.
This article was originally published by FreeBase News and is reprinted with permission.
