Israel-Hezbollah Armistice Agreement Begins

JERUSALEM - The ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group brokered through US and French diplomatic efforts took effect on Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT).

Under the agreement, the Lebanese Armed Forces will be deployed to southern Lebanon within 60 days, and during that time Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining troops.

The agreement also required Hezbollah to move its troops to the north of the Litani River.

US President Joe Biden stressed that although there would be no American troops in southern Lebanon, "We, together with France and other countries, will provide the necessary assistance to ensure this deal is fully and effectively implemented."

"civil servants on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities and begin rebuilding their homes, schools, farms, businesses and lives," Biden said.

According to a number of reports, five thousand to 10,000 Lebanese troops will be deployed to the territory between the Israel-Lebanon border and the Litani River. The deployment aims to prevent armed groups from being rearmed, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

At least 55 people died on Monday in an Israeli attack in Lebanon, bringing the death toll since October 2023 to 3,823, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said on Tuesday.

As many as 160 other people were injured in the last 24 hours, bringing the number of injured victims to 15,859 people.

In recent hours, Israeli airstrikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut and its southern suburbs, as well as the country's southern and eastern provinces, have intensified, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries.

Hezbollah began a series of ballistic missile, rocket, and drone attacks against Israel shortly after the Palestinian Hamas group launched a cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The Lebanese group said its attack was meant to show solidarity with Hamas and the Gaza people and pressured Israel to make a ceasefire in the trapped coastal enclave.

Israel retaliated with massive airstrikes against the small Mediterranean nation to fight what it called Hezbollah's target.

In October, Israel expanded its attacks to include a land invasion of Lebanon.