Lebanon: Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire takes effect in Lebanon
A ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah has taken effect hours after United States President Joe Biden said a proposal to end the “devastating” conflict had been reached, promising to halt nearly 14 months of cross-border fighting that has killed thousands of people.
The ceasefire began at 4am (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday amid concerns about whether it would hold and lead to the permanent end of fighting between Israel’s military and Hezbollah forces.
Tens of thousands of forcibly displaced civilians started returning home to the south of the country, defying warnings from the Israeli military not to go back until it withdrew.
“The fighting across the Lebanese-Israeli border will end … This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities,” Biden said, announcing the agreement on Tuesday night.