Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah that will see both sides withdraw from southern Lebanon.
The US-backed peace deal, which has the full support of Joe Biden, took effect on Wednesday (4am local time).
Mr Biden called it a “permanent cessation” after “the deadliest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in decades”.
He warned Israel had the right to self-defence if Hezbollah broke the agreement, but added: “It heralds a new start for Lebanon.”
Mr Biden said the latest ceasefire deal could be used as a blueprint to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
He added: “Just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza. They too deserve an end of the fighting and displacement. The people of Gaza have been through hell.”
Hamas has refused to negotiate in good faith for months over a peace deal, the US president said. But that could change if the terror group agrees to free hostages it has held captive for more than a year.
Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed the deal but also stressed the length of the ceasefire was dependent on how well it is observed by the Iran-backed terror group.
“We reserve the right to use all forms of military force if Hezbollah begins rearming contrary to the agreement,” he said.
Speaking to the nation on live TV, the Israeli prime minister said Hezbollah was no longer the same organisation, saying: “We set them back decades. We have destroyed many missiles and rockets, we have killed many terrorists.”
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Mr Netanyahu listed three reasons why Israel is willing to end the war with Hezbollah now, saying: “The first reason is to focus on the Iranian threat, and I will not expand on that.”
The second, he said, is to give Israeli soldiers “a breather and replenish stocks. And I say it openly, it is no secret that there have been big delays in weapons and munitions deliveries”.
In what appeared to be a hint at a change in US policy under Donald Trump, the Israeli prime minister added: “These delays will be resolved soon. We will receive supplies of advanced weaponry that will keep our soldiers safe and give us more strike force to complete our mission.”
The third reason, Mr Netanyahu concluded, is for Israel to separate its war fronts and isolate Hamas in Gaza.
“From day two of the war, Hamas was counting on Hezbollah to fight by its side. With Hezbollah out of the picture, Hamas is left on its own. We will increase our pressure on Hamas and that will help us in our sacred mission of releasing our hostages,” he said.
The deal follows a US ceasefire proposal largely built on UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the last war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
It stipulates that Israel must withdraw its forces from Lebanon, while Hezbollah must remove its forces from the south of the country, north of the Litani river.
In the hours leading up to the ceasefire, hostilities raged as Israel ramped up its campaign of airstrikes in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon.
The Israeli military said it struck “components of Hezbollah’s financial management and systems” including a money-exchange office.
Hezbollah also kept up rocket fire into Israel.
Israel’s air force intercepted three launches from Lebanese territory, the military said, in an extensive missile barrage on Tuesday night that led to warning alarms in about 115 settlements.
Israel was expected to receive assurances from the US that it can act against violations of the deal as long as it is coordinated with Washington. The US will lead an oversight committee in charge of monitoring Hezbollah’s activities in Lebanon.
Ha’aretz, the Israeli newspaper, reported that the ceasefire would be carried out in several stages, eventually leading to negotiations over the land border between Lebanon and Israel, which remains disputed to this day.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “Today’s long overdue ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah will provide some measure of relief to the civilian populations of Lebanon and northern Israel, who have suffered unimaginable consequences during the last few months of devastating conflict and bloodshed.
“The UK and its allies will continue to be at the forefront of efforts to break the ongoing cycle of violence in pursuit of a long-term, sustainable peace in the Middle East. We must see immediate progress towards a ceasefire deal in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the removal of restrictions on desperately needed humanitarian aid.”
Mike Waltz, Donald Trump’s pick for national security adviser once he returns to the White House, said the president-elect deserved credit for the deal.
“Everyone is coming to the table because of president Trump,” he said. “His resounding victory sent a clear message to the rest of the world that chaos won’t be tolerated.
“I’m glad to see concrete steps towards de-escalation in the Middle East. But let’s be clear – the Iran regime is the root cause of the chaos and terror that has been unleashed across the region. We will not tolerate the status quo of their support for terrorism.”
Yair Lapid, Israel’s opposition leader, criticised Mr Netanyahu following his speech, saying “the greatest disaster” in Israel’s history happened on his watch.
“No deal with Hezbollah will erase the abandonments. No statement to the press will change history,” said Mr Lapid.
Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the Yisrael Beitenu party, ridiculed Mr Netanyahu, saying he had “surrendered to terror”.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s mational security minister, also criticised the ceasefire deal, claiming it would not bring back safety to the residents of northern Israel. “The Lebanese army does not have the authority at all, and certainly not the ability to overcome Hezbollah,” he said.
