GUWAHATI: Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah have agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire that will take effect from early Wednesday (Israel time). The deal, approved by Israel's cabinet in a 10-1 vote, calls for a 60-day cessation of hostilities.
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The agreement aims to end the year-long conflict, which has recently worsened along the Israel-Lebanon border. Under the deal, Israeli troops will begin a phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah will also pull back from the region. The Lebanese army will deploy south of the Litani River to assert state sovereignty and prevent Hezbollah from regaining ground.
US President Joe Biden announced the agreement as a critical step toward regional stability, while Hezbollah's leadership indicated preliminary support. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasised its right to take action if Hezbollah violates the ceasefire, a provision that Lebanon has opposed.
The ongoing conflict has displaced over 1.2 million Lebanese and 50,000 Israelis, with heavy casualties reported on both sides. Lebanese officials have reported more than 3,700 deaths, primarily civilians, as a result of Israel's bombing campaign. On the Israeli side, over 130 people have been killed.
The US and France will assist in monitoring the ceasefire, although the verification mission will focus on strengthening the Lebanese army’s capacity rather than deploying US troops to Lebanon.
