Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire

On November 26 (local time), US President Joe Biden said that Israel and Hezbollah accepted the ceasefire agreement brokered by the US and France.

The deal paves the way for an end to the Israel-Lebanon cross-border conflict that has killed thousands since the Gaza conflict erupted last year.

The Rweiss neighborhood in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, after the Israeli raid on November 9. (Photo: Getty Images)

Mr. Biden made his remarks at the White House shortly after Israel's security cabinet approved the deal by a 10-1 vote. The US president said he had spoken by phone with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanon's interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Both sides agreed that the fighting would end at 4 a.m. on November 27 (Middle East time).

"The agreement is to permanently end hostilities," President Biden said, adding that Israel would gradually withdraw its troops over 60 days while the Lebanese army took control of territory near the border to ensure Hezbollah did not rebuild infrastructure there.

“People on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities,” Mr. Biden declared.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the signing of the agreement, saying it was "the fruit of efforts carried out over many months with the Israeli and Lebanese authorities, in close coordination with the United States".

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Mikati said he welcomed the deal. Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said earlier that the country's army was ready to deploy at least 5,000 troops in southern Lebanon as Israel withdrew.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said he was ready to implement the ceasefire and would respond strongly to any violation by Hezbollah. He said the ceasefire would allow Israel to replenish depleted weapons supplies and give the army a rest, while isolating Hamas, the militant group that sparked regional conflict when it launched a rocket attack on Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023.

A senior US official said the US and France will join a mechanism with the UNIFIL peacekeeping force to coordinate with the Lebanese army to prevent ceasefire violations. The official affirmed that US combat forces will not be deployed.

US President Biden, who leaves office next January, said his administration would continue to push for a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, where Israel is in conflict with Hamas, as well as a deal to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Hoa Vu (Source: Reuters)

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/israel-va-hezbollah-dong-y-ngung-ban-ar909843.html