A ceasefire aimed at ending the 14-month-old war between Israel and Hezbollah officially came into force in the wee hours of Wednesday, hours after President Joe Biden hailed the “historic” moment.
The ceasefire started after the heaviest day of raids on Beirut, including a series of strikes in the city’s centre, since Israel stepped up its air campaign in Lebanon in late September before sending in ground troops.
By 7am in Lebanon there were no immediate reports of alleged violations of the truce. Some celebratory gunshots could be heard in parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Biden’s announcement came as Israel’s Cabinet approved the ceasefire. The war between Israel and the Iran-backed group has killed almost 3,800 people in Lebanon over the last year and left about 16,000 others wounded.
“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.”
But as Mr. Biden noted, the ceasefire does not apply to the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas.
“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.”
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.”
