Israel approved Tuesday evening a ceasefire in its war in Lebanon with Hezbollah, which will come into force Wednesday morning according to Washington, after more than a year of cross-border hostilities and two months of open war between the Israeli army and the powerful Lebanese formation armed and supported by Tehran. The truce for which the United States and France have been working for weeks will begin at 2:00 GMT on Wednesday, announced American President Joe Biden, who immediately welcomed the announcement of the agreement. The ceasefire was approved in the evening by the Israeli security cabinet, Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.
“If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack”
“In full agreement with the United States, we maintain complete freedom of military action” in Lebanon, he added. “If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack.” However, he did not announce when the approximately 60,000 inhabitants of the north of the country displaced by the war with Hezbollah would be able to return home and refrained from making the slightest announcement on the subject.
Referring to the “seven fronts” (Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, the Houthi rebels in Yemen and the Iraqi paramilitary groups supported by Tehran) on which Israel is fighting, Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that this truce would allow ” to concentrate on the Iranian threat” common, according to him, to all these fronts. “The ceasefire has three reasons for existing: the first, to focus on the Iranian threat and I will not dwell on the subject,” declared Benjamin Netanyahu.
It will also “refresh the troops and resupply” with weapons and equipment “to complete our mission”. Thirdly, “on Hamas”, the Palestinian Islamist movement that Israel is fighting in Gaza, the ceasefire contributes to its “isolation”, said Benjamin Netanyahu. “When Hezbollah is out of the game, Hamas is left alone (in Gaza). Our pressure will intensify, and this will contribute to the sacred mission of freeing our hostages,” he added. The safe return of displaced people from northern Israel, the annihilation of Hamas and the return of all hostages held in Gaza are among the main war goals declared by the Netanyahu government.
The agreement would “protect” Israel from the “threat” of Hezbollah, according to Macron and Biden
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati estimated Tuesday that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, which comes into force Wednesday morning according to Washington, constituted a “fundamental step” towards regional stability. Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron assured Tuesday that the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon would “protect” Israel from the “threat” of Hezbollah, the American and French presidents committing to work to strengthen the “capacities” of the Lebanese army and the recovery of the country’s economy.
This agreement “will protect Israel from the threat posed by Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations operating from Lebanon,” they assured in a joint statement. “The United States and France are committed to playing a leading role in supporting international efforts to strengthen the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces and foster economic development throughout Lebanon in order to promote stability and prosperity in the region,” they added.
The ceasefire announced in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah is “very encouraging news, above all for the Lebanese and Israeli people affected by the fighting”, welcomed Tuesday the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. “Lebanon will have the opportunity to strengthen its internal security and stability thanks to the reduced influence of Hezbollah”, the powerful Lebanese formation armed and supported by Tehran, underlined the leader on the Bluesky social network.
