Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire takes effect in Lebanon with US and France acting as guarantors

A ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah has come into effect hours after United States President Joe Biden said a proposal to end the “devastating” conflict had been reached, promising to halt nearly 14 months of war that has killed thousands of people.

 

The ceasefire began at 4am local time on Wednesday amid concerns about whether the truce would hold and lead to the permanent end of fighting between Israel’s military and Hezbollah forces.

Today, I have some good news to report from the Middle East,” Mr. Biden said on the White House South Lawn. “I just spoke with the prime minister of Israel and Lebanon. I’m pleased to announce that their governments have accepted the United States’ proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. I want to thank President Macron of France for his partnership in reaching this moment.”

“This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities,” he added. “What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed, I emphasize, will not be allowed, to threaten the security of Israel ever again.”

“The fighting across the Lebanese-Israeli border will end… ,”

“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,” Biden said.

 

 

Over the next 60 days, the Lebanese Army and state security forces will take control once again, he said, and Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces. Since the war with Hezbollah began, over 70,000 Israelis have been “forced to live as refugees in their own country,” Mr. Biden said, and over 300,000 Lebanese people have also been forced from their homes.

“Let’s be clear,” Mr. Biden said. “Israel did not launch this war. The Lebanese people did not seek that war either, nor did the United States.”

 

 

Echoing remarks from earlier from Netanyahu, Mr. Biden said if Hezbollah or anyone else breaks the deal and poses a direct threat to Israel, then Israel retains the right to self-defense.

 

 

 

 

And in a joint statement later released by Mr. Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, the two leaders said that “the announcement today will cease the fighting in Lebanon, and secure Israel from the threat of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations operating from Lebanon,” adding that it “will create the conditions to restore lasting calm and allow residents in both countries to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line.”

 

 

Hezbollah, which did not participate in any direct talks on the ceasefire with Lebanese parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri mediating on the group’s behalf have not released a statement concerning the truce .

 

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he told Biden that he welcomed the deal to end hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.

 

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also told the US president that his government had approved the truce and that he appreciated his “understanding that Israel will maintain its freedom of action in enforcing it”, his office said.

 

As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel 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.

 

 

Biden released a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, emphasising that both countries “will work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure this arrangement is fully implemented and enforced”.

 

The US and France also 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”.

 

 

Hezbollah militant group of Lebanon began striking Israel on October 8, 2023, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Cross-border attacks persisted for months. Then, at the start of last month, Israel invaded southern Lebanon.

 

At least 3,768 Lebanese have been killed and 15,699 wounded since the fighting began