Israel and the Lebanese, Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah have reportedly reached a ceasefire agreement, facilitated by the United States and France. If adhered to, the ceasefire is expected to last for 60 days.
The agreement is set to take effect early Wednesday morning, having quickly received approval from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, according to The Associated Press.
During a speech on Tuesday, Netanyahu stated, “The length of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon.” He emphasized Israel's commitment to enforcing the agreement and warned of a “forceful” response to any violations, declaring, “We will continue united until victory.”
He also asserted that, “With the United States' full understanding, we maintain full freedom of military action.” He outlined several scenarios that would provoke a military response from Israel, including Hezbollah's attempts to arm itself, rebuild terrorist infrastructure near the border, or launch rockets.
Netanyahu's motivations for seeking the ceasefire included the need to “focus on the Iranian threat,” allow Israeli forces a chance to regroup, and “separate the fronts and isolate Hamas.”
However, a senior official from Hezbollah noted that their leaders had yet to see the final written version of the agreement. Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah's political council, stated, “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 added, “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state” of Lebanon, asserting that “any violation of sovereignty is refused.”
The escalating regional unrest has placed Israel in conflict with Iranian-backed terror groups following Hamas' unprovoked attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in nearly 1,200 deaths, primarily among civilians, including 40 Americans. In retaliation, Israel conducted multiple air strikes in Gaza alongside a ground offensive, aiming to dismantle Hamas and rescue hostages, who numbered around 250.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, run by Hamas, over 40,000 people have died in Gaza since the onset of the conflict; however, these figures do not specify the distinction between unarmed civilians and armed combatants.
Since October 2023, Israel has also been engaged in rocket exchanges with Hezbollah, with fighting intensifying this September as Israel conducted a limited ground offensive and increased its bombardments.
The ceasefire arrives amidst heightened border attacks, with Hezbollah reportedly firing thousands of rockets into northern Israel, causing many residents to flee south. Lebanese officials report that over 3,000 people have been killed during this recent surge in violence, with hundreds of thousands displaced, marking the deadliest conflict for Lebanon in decades.
