Israel Agrees To Truce With Hezbollah

• 27.11.2024, 8:24

The truce will go into effect today.

The Israeli cabinet has approved a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, The Jerusalem Post reports. The truce will take effect at 10:00 local time (11:00 a.m. Minsk time) on Wednesday, November 27. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasised that the duration of the truce would depend on Hezbollah's actions, warning that any violations would result in strikes by the Israeli military.

Netanyahu said that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have already inflicted significant damage on Hezbollah, ‘setting it back for decades’. He also mentioned eliminating the group's leader Hassan Nasrallah and destroying its infrastructure and weapons among the achievements.

According to Reuters, the terms of the agreement stipulate the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army there. Lebanon, on the other hand, undertakes to cease its armed presence along the border south of the Litani River. Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said 5,000 Lebanese troops would be sent to the south and the US could help rebuild infrastructure damaged in the fighting.

Netanyahu attributed the need for the truce to focusing on countering the Iranian threat, rebuilding the military arsenal and isolating the Hamas group.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the ceasefire agreement could help end the war in Gaza. He said Hamas had sought to involve other countries in the conflict, making it difficult to end the fighting. Blinken said the agreement would reduce tensions, save the lives of both Lebanese and Israelis, and allow civilians to return to their homes.