Israel agrees to US-brokered ceasefire deal with Hezbollah ending 13 months of all-out war

Israel has agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire deal ending 13 months of fighting with Hezbollah which becomes effective from early Nov 27.

US President Joe Biden announced the deal, saying the ceasefire would take effect at 4 a.m. (7:30 a.m. IST) and that it was a "new start" for Lebanon.

President Biden, while announcing the 'good news,' said the ceasefire aimed at "permanently" ending the offensive in Gaza. He further said the US and its allies would provide all assistance to ensure that the deal was implemented without violations.

In a joint statement with France, the US said as per the agreement, fighting in Lebanon would cease and “secure Israel from the threat of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations.”

The Israeli cabinet approved the ceasefire deal on Nov 26 by a vote of 10-1. According to the ceasefire deal, Lebanese forces will deploy towards the south over a 60-day period, during which Israel will withdraw from Lebanese territory in phases, an official said.

The truce pact further requires Hezbollah to withdraw from the southern border and move up the Litani River.

The ceasefire announcement comes a day after the heaviest Israeli attack in Beirut since the beginning of the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in September.

Notably, even an hour before the ceasefire announcement on Nov 27, Israeli air strikes were launched at south Beirut.

The official said that during the ceasefire, no firing will be done from both sides. However, if Hezbollah violates the agreement, Israel will have to forcefully retaliate, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added.

Netanyahu said the Israeli military will use this time to resupply while maintaining its focus on Gaza and the "Iranian threat."

"When Hezbollah is out of the picture, Hamas is left alone in the fight. Our pressure on it will intensify," Netanyahu was quoted as saying.

No Hezbollah member was present during the ceasefire talks and was represented by Lebanese parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri.

Iran-backed fighter group and an ally of Palestinian-based Hamas, Hezbollah is the only armed group that did not surrender its weapons after the Lebanese civil war in 1990.

"We will complete the task of obliterating Hamas, we will bring home all of our hostages, we will ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel and we will return the residents of the north back home safely," Netanyahu added.

The Middle East has been witnessing a devastating war, with Israel fighting Hamas in Gaza and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

Iran has also exchanged fire with Israel in solidarity with these two prominent fighter groups.

The conflict has now resulted in the displacement of over 1.2 million Lebanese and 50,000 Israelis. Israel's heavy bombing attacks have led to 3,700 deaths, including mostly civilians, according to Lebanese officials, while over 130 have been killed on the Israeli side.