The Israeli security cabinet has agreed to a U.S.-backed cease-fire agreement in its war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, local media reported, pausing the long-running offensive against Iran’s terror proxy for at least 60 days.
The cease-fire, reported by Israel’s Channel 12, obligates both the Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah to withdraw from Lebanon's south. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly approved the deal in a televised speech Tuesday afternoon, vowing to present the cease-fire to his entire cabinet in Jerusalem later.
“The duration of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “We will enforce the agreement and respond forcefully to any violation. We will continue together until victory.”
A five-nation monitoring committee, led by the U.S., will be tasked with overseeing the withdrawal and subsequent peace efforts.
Netanyahu assured the public that the deal included carveouts enabling Israel to maintain a military presence on its northern border and retaliate against the Lebanese terror group should the latter attack Israel again. The Lebanese Army is also set to take a larger role in clearing the south of hostile forces.
“With full understanding with the United States, we maintain complete military freedom of action,” Netanyahu said in the address. “If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself — we will attack. If it tries to renew terrorist infrastructure near the border — we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck with missiles — we will attack.”
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