President Joe Biden confirmed that a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah will come into effect at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday morning.
It came after both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France.
Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Biden praised the decision to “end the violence” after a conflict that has lasted nearly 14 months.
The 82-year-old commander-in-chief said: “I just spoke with the prime ministers of Israel and Lebanon. I am pleased to announce that their governments have accepted the United States’ proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.”
The ceasefire, brokered by American and French diplomats, marks a 60-day process in which both sides would cease fighting and withdraw from southern Lebanon.
Biden added: “This is intended to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed. Over the next 60 days, the Lebanese army and state security forces will seize and take control of their own territory.
“Once again, Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon will not be allowed to be rebuilt and over the next sixty days Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces and civilians.”
President Joe Biden confirmed that Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah had agreed to a permanent ceasefire after a year-long conflict
The 82-year-old commander-in-chief confirmed in the White House Rose Garden that the deal would take effect from 4 a.m. on Wednesday morning, saying it was now Hamas’ turn to release the hostages.
Israel did not give up its bombardment of Lebanon and hit Hezbollah hard until the last minute.
As Israel’s cabinet prepared to vote on the ceasefire, the army bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs 20 times in two minutes on Tuesday afternoon, an Israeli military spokesman said.
At least seven people were killed and another 37 injured in Israeli attacks on a four-story building in central Beirut.
On the war in Gaza, Biden added: “Just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so too do the people of Gaza.
‘Now Hamas has to make a choice. Their only way out is to release the hostages they are holding, including American citizens, and end the fighting, which would allow a wave of humanitarian aid.
“In the coming days, the United States will renew pressure with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. Now that the hostages have been released and the end of the war without Hamas in power, this becomes possible.’
The ceasefire announcement in Lebanon is a victory for the Biden administration, which is working to stabilize the Middle East before the president leaves office in January.
Biden made his comments shortly before he was set to leave for Nantucket, where he will spend the Thanksgiving holiday with his family.
Before his comments, Israel’s security cabinet announced it had approved a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.
The deal does not affect Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, which shows no signs of ending.
Lebanese officials have said Hezbollah also supports the deal with Israel.
It is an important step toward ending the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which has fueled tensions in the region and raised fears of an even bigger conflict between Israel and Hezbollah’s patron, Iran.
The US and the Biden administration have pushed hard for the deal.
It requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a wide swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli forces return to their side of the border.
Biden confirmed he spoke to Netanyahu by phone after the US-backed deal was confirmed
Smoke rises from the scene of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut on Tuesday
A member of the Lebanese emergency services walks at the scene of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building reportedly housing a Hezbollah-backed financial institution in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon.
“The duration of the ceasefire will depend on what happens in Lebanon,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address.
“With the full understanding of the United States, we maintain full military freedom of action. If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack.”
It is not clear what impact the ceasefire will have on the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah had long insisted it would not agree to a ceasefire until the war in Gaza is over, but dropped that condition.
Netanyahu outlined three reasons for the ceasefire: it would allow Israel to focus on Iran, allow the military to rebuild its supplies and isolate Hamas in Gaza.