Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire comes into force with Biden insistent on ‘permanent cessation of hostilities’ | Lebanon

Long-awaited ceasefire aimed at formally ending 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah entered into force early Wednesday morning, hours after Joe Biden hailed the “historic” moment.

The ceasefire officially began at 0200 GMT – 4 am Lebanon – after the heaviest day of attacks on Beirut, including a series of strikes in the city center, since Israel stepped up its air campaign in Lebanon in late September before sending in ground troops.

As of 7 a.m., there were no immediate reports of suspected ceasefire violations in Lebanon. Some celebratory gunshots could be heard in parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs.

The Israeli army warned residents of southern Lebanon not to approach soon after the ceasefire began Israel Defense force positions and villages were ordered to be evacuated.

“With the entry into force of the ceasefire agreement and based on its provisions, IS remains deployed in its positions in southern Lebanon,” army spokesman Avichai Adreye said in an X post.

“You are prohibited from targeting villages that the IDF has ordered evacuated or IDF forces in the area.”

However, the roads leading from Beirut to southern Lebanon were full of traffic.

Hezbollah and the Amal political movement have issued guidelines for residents who want to return to their villages, south of the Litani River – although the Lebanese state has not yet notified its citizens.

Doubts about whether the truce would stick were widespread as the smell of nighttime bombing hung over Beirut’s southern suburbs and an Israeli drone buzzed overhead despite the cease-fire.

Nevertheless, residents had already begun to return to southern Lebanon, shouting and cheering as they drove into Tyre, the second-largest city in the south.

Reuters reporters saw dozens of vehicles leaving the port city of Sidon south of Beirut around 4 a.m. local time and heading further into southern Lebanon.

Ahmad Husseini said returning to southern Lebanon was an “indescribable feeling” and praised parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who is leading Lebanon’s talks with Washington. “He made us and everyone proud.”

Husseini, who earlier fled a town near the coastal city, spoke to The Associated Press while in his car with family members.

On Wednesday, Iran welcomed the end of Israel’s “aggression” in Lebanon. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement, underscoring Iran’s “firm support” for the Lebanese government, nation and resistance.

On Tuesday, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahuhad approved the deal after his entire cabinet approved it, despite opposition from his far-right allies.

In televised remarks after Israel’s security cabinet met to vote on the 60-day ceasefire proposal, Netanyahu said he was ready to implement the deal, but added that Israel would retain “full military freedom of action” in case of violation by Hezbollah.

“We will enforce the agreement and will respond vigorously to any violation.” Together we will continue to victory,” Netanyahu said.

Under the terms of the deal, Israel will withdraw entirely from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah will move its heavy weapons north of the Litani River, about 16 miles (25 km) north of the border.

In remarks from the White House Rose Garden, Biden said: “This is meant to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. What remains of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed, I stress, will not be allowed to threaten Israel’s security again,” he said.

“Today’s announcement is a critical step … and so I applaud the bold decision taken by the leaders of the Lebanon and Israel to end the violence,” he continued. “It reminds us that peace is possible. Say it again, peace is possible.

The deal is a rare boost for Biden as he prepares to leave the White House and hand over to President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the deal, which he said was “the culmination of many months of effort with the Israeli and Lebanese authorities, in close cooperation with the United States.”

In a statement published onlineMacron said the deal should “turn the page for Lebanon” but warned: “We must not forget that the war continues to plague Gaza, where France will continue its efforts to end hostilities, release hostages and deliver massive humanitarian aid help.”

He added: “This agreement should also pave the way for a ceasefire that has taken far too long to achieve in the face of the immeasurable suffering of the people of Gaza.”

Leaders around the world echoed his sentiments. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it would provide some degree of relief to civilians in Lebanon and northern Israel and called for progress towards a ceasefire in Gaza. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the “very encouraging news”, saying the deal would increase Lebanon’s “internal security and stability”.

Even as the deal was due to be announced, Israel stepped up its campaign of airstrikes against the Lebanese capital Beirut and other areas of the country, killing 18 people, according to the country’s health authorities.

The signing of the ceasefire comes with less than two months left in the Biden administration.

A senior White House administration official confirmed that Trump’s national security team had been briefed on the ceasefire plans and said the president-elect’s administration was expected to continue to support it.

“They seem to support it,” the administration official said. “And for the obvious reason that I think they agreed that it’s good for Israel, as Prime Minister Netanyahu just said, it’s good for Lebanon, as their government said, and it’s good for the national security of the United States.” And most importantly, doing it now versus later will save countless lives on both sides.”

Hezbollah is not directly involved in the truce talks, with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri mediating on its behalf.

The agreement will have no direct effect on the fighting in Gaza, where US efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas have failed to produce an agreement. Tuesday’s ceasefire talks were reportedly facilitated by the decision to separate them from talks in Gaza, where the conflict remains intractable.

But asked if a Gaza cease-fire agreement could follow, Biden said: “I think so. I hope I pray.”