US brokered Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire comes into effect with Netanyahu's warning
PTC News Desk: Israel's cabinet has approved a US-France brokered ceasefire deal which comes into effect on November 27. The truce is expected to stall the long-standing conflict between Israel and militant group Hezbollah that has killed almost 3,800 people in Lebanon over the last year and left about 16,000 others wounded.
The United States and France issued a joint statement after the deal and highlighting their commitment to work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure the agreement is fully implemented and enforced.
"We remain determined to prevent this conflict from becoming another cycle of violence," the statement read. Biden further said that Israel will eventually withdraw its forces while Lebanon will recalim control over its territory.
"Fighting across the Israel-Lebanon border would end at 4 am (local time). This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organisations will not be allowed to threaten the security of Israel again," the outgoing US President said.
The US president also spoke to Netanyahu and Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati. However, despite the diplomatic breakthrough, hostilities continued on Tuesday as Israel ramped up its military campaign in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, resulting in the death of 18 people. The Iran-backed Hezbollah also kept up rocket fire into Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, also stressed that the "length" of this ceasefire will depend on "what happens in Lebanon."
"With the United States' full understanding, we maintain full freedom of military action. If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. If it tries to rebuild terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck carrying rockets, we will attack", Netanyahu noted.
- With inputs from agencies
