A historic ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah has come into force, marking a major milestone in the 14-month-old war in Lebanon. The deal was announced by US President Joe Biden and endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Under the agreement, Israel will withdraw from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah will move its heavy weaponry north of the Litani River. The Lebanese army will deploy to the buffer border zone alongside the UN peacekeeping force. The ceasefire calls for a two-month halt to fighting and is set to be monitored by an international panel led by the United States.
Despite continued fighting leading up to the ceasefire, including Israeli airstrikes in Beirut and Hezbollah launching drones at military targets in Tel Aviv, the ceasefire came into effect at 4am local time. The agreement was welcomed by world leaders, including the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. However, the ceasefire does not address the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Israel has been conducting airstrikes that have resulted in numerous casualties.
The ceasefire agreement is seen as a crucial step towards restoring calm and stability in Lebanon and creating conditions for a lasting peace. While challenges lie ahead in implementing the deal, including concerns about potential violations and border disputes, world leaders expressed hope that the agreement will lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities and bring an end to the long-standing conflict in the region.
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