The President of the United States, Joe Biden, announced that Israel and "Hezbollah" have agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon.
"Today, I have good news from the Middle East. I spoke with the Prime Ministers of Lebanon and Israel. I am pleased to announce: They have accepted the United States' proposal to end the destructive conflict between Israel and 'Hezbollah,'" he wrote on his microblog X.
During a speech at the White House, the president stated that the ceasefire agreement would take effect at 4:00 AM local time, as reported by CNN:
"Over the next 60 days, Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces and civilians—soon, civilians on both sides will be able to safely return to their communities and begin rebuilding their homes."
At the same time, Biden emphasized that Israel retains the right to self-defense if "Hezbollah" or other forces violate this agreement. He described the decision as a "new beginning" for Lebanon, as it will allow the country to maintain its sovereignty. He also announced that U.S. troops would not be deployed in the south of the country.
During his speech, the American leader noted that the residents of Gaza also deserve an end to hostilities and the opportunity to return home.
Ceasefire in the Middle East
Today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a statement indicating that the government would approve the ceasefire agreement with "Hezbollah."
Netanyahu explained that the ceasefire in Lebanon would allow Israel to focus on the threat from Iran and to update and rearm its forces. Additionally, this would isolate Hamas.
According to him, "Hezbollah" "is no longer the same," as Israel has managed to push it back decades. "Hassan Nasrallah has been killed, as have all the leaders of 'Hezbollah.' We have destroyed a large portion of their rockets and shells. We have killed thousands of terrorists, and we have dismantled the underground and terrorist infrastructure near our borders," he stated.