Washington: US President Biden announced that the US helped secure a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, which will end fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.
His announcement came as the Israeli cabinet approved a ceasefire at the urging of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Nearly 3,800 people were killed and nearly 16,000 injured in Lebanon over the past year between Israel and the Iranian-backed group.
Joe Biden said on the South Lawn of the White House that I just spoke with the prime ministers of Israel and Lebanon. I am pleased to announce that their governments have accepted the US proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
I want to thank French President Macron for his partnership in getting to this moment. Mr. Biden said that under the agreement reached, the ceasefire will take effect at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday and will end fighting along the Lebanon-Israel border.
The US president made it clear that the ceasefire does not apply to the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas.
He added that it is designed to “permanently end hostilities.” “Whatever remains of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed to exist.”
Joe Biden said that I emphasize that Israel’s security will never be allowed to be threatened again.
He said that over the next 60 days, the Lebanese army and state security forces will once again take control, and Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces.
The US president said that since the war with Hezbollah began, more than 70,000 Israelis “have been forced to live as refugees in their own country, while more than 300,000 Lebanese have also been displaced from their homes.
