The Israeli security cabinet has agreed to a U.S.-backed cease-fire agreement in its war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, pausing the long-running offensive against Iran’s terror proxy for at least 60 days.
U.S. President Joe Biden referred to the agreement as “good news” after attempting to broker a stoppage in fighting since Hezbollah began launching attacks on Israel following Hamas’ October 7 massacre in 2023.
The cease-fire, which was initially reported by Israel’s Channel 12 and approved by the Israeli security cabinet 10-1, obligates both the Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah to withdraw from Lebanon’s south. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly approved the deal in a televised speech Tuesday afternoon, vowing to present the cease-fire to his entire cabinet in Jerusalem later.
“The duration of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “We will enforce the agreement and respond forcefully to any violation. We will continue together until victory.”
A five-nation monitoring committee, led by the U.S., will be tasked with overseeing the withdrawal and subsequent peace efforts.
Netanyahu assured the public that the deal included carveouts enabling Israel to maintain a military presence on its northern border and retaliate against the Lebanese terror group should the latter attack Israel again. The Lebanese Army is also set to take a larger role in clearing the south of hostile forces. The agreement seems to mirror United Nations Security Council 1701 which ended the 2006 war between the two parties.
“I have said many times that a good agreement is an agreement that can be enforced, and we will enforce it,” Netanyahu said.
Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told Al Jazeera that the terrorist group had not yet seen a final ceasefire agreement, The Associated Press reported.
“After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” he said.
“With full understanding with the United States, we maintain complete military freedom of action,” Netanyahu said in the address. “If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself — we will attack. If it tries to renew terrorist infrastructure near the border — we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck with missiles — we will attack.”
Just hours before Netanyahu’s public appearance, Israel carried out one of its most severe series of strikes on Beirut and its southern suburbs after issuing a record number of evacuation warnings, according to The Associated Press.