Washington: President Joe Biden has announced that Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah have accepted a US-brokered peace deal that is designed to be a “permanent cessation” of hostilities between the two sides.
As part of the ceasefire, Israel will gradually withdraw its troops from Lebanon over the next 60 days, Biden said in his address to the nation from the White House on Tuesday, shortly after Israel’s Security Cabinet approved the accord.
According to reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented to the Security Cabinet the agreement aimed at ending months-long fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah which was ignited by the Gaza conflict and has killed and displaced thousands.
Considering it the “deadliest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in decades”, Biden announced that the ceasefire deal will come into effect from 04:00 am Wednesday local time (02:00 GMT).
“Over the next 60 days, Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces and civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities and begin to rebuild their homes,” the outgoing US president added.
Following the ceasefire deal, the Lebanese army will be able to take over its territory which had been captured by the Israeli military when it started its ground offensive against the militant group in Beirut.
Though President Biden warned Lebanon-based Hezbollah if it tries to break the ceasefire deal and counterattack, then Israel “retains the right to self-defense consistent with international law”.
Mentioning the hostilities in Gaza, Biden said that the United States will continue to maneuver a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza as it brings closer to a prospect of “peace and prosperity” in the Middle East region.
Biden concluded by applauding the decision made by the leaders of Lebanon and Israel to end the violence. “It reminds us that peace is possible,” he said.
