The long-awaited ceasefire aimed at ending the 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah officially took effect early Wednesday morning, hours after Joe Biden hailed the “historic” moment.
The ceasefire comes after Israel ramped up air operations in Lebanon in late September before sending in ground troops and following the heaviest air raid on Beirut, including a series of airstrikes in the city center, at 0200 GMT ( It officially began at 4:00 a.m. Lebanon time.
There were no immediate reports of suspected ceasefire violations in Lebanon by 7 a.m. Gunshots could be heard in celebration in some parts of Beirut's southern suburbs.
Immediately after the ceasefire began, the Israeli military warned residents of southern Lebanon to stay away from IDF positions and villages that the army had ordered evacuated.
“With the ceasefire agreement in force and in accordance with its provisions, the Israel Defense Forces remain deployed in positions within southern Lebanon,” military spokesperson Avichai Adlai said in a post on X.
“It is prohibited to proceed to villages that the IDF has ordered to evacuate or to IDF units in the area.”
However, the roads leading from Beirut to south Lebanon were clogged with traffic jams.
Hezbollah and the Amal political movement have issued guidelines for residents wishing to return to villages south of the Litani River, but the Lebanese state has not yet advised its citizens.
Despite the ceasefire, the smell of night bombing wafted over Beirut's southern suburbs and Israeli drones buzzed overhead, raising doubts about whether it would hold.
Nevertheless, residents have already begun returning to south Lebanon, cheering as they drive into the south's second city of Tire.
Reuters reporters saw dozens of cars leaving the port city of Sidon, south of Beirut, at around 4 a.m. local time and heading deep into southern Lebanon.
Ahmad Husseini said it was an “indescribable feeling” to return to southern Lebanon and praised National Assembly Speaker Navi Berri for leading negotiations between Lebanon and Washington. “He made us and everyone proud.”
Husseini, who had earlier fled from a town near the coastal city, spoke to The Associated Press in a car with his family.
Iran on Wednesday welcomed the end of Israel's “aggression” in Lebanon. In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai emphasized Iran's “firm support for the Lebanese government, state and resistance.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed the deal on Tuesday after the entire cabinet approved it despite opposition from far-right allies.
In televised remarks after Israel's Security Cabinet met to vote on a 60-day cease-fire, Prime Minister Netanyahu said he was ready to implement the agreement, but said Israel would be “completely committed” in the event of a violation. It added that it would maintain “freedom of military action.” by Hezbollah.
“We will implement the agreement and respond strongly to any violations. We will continue to cooperate until victory,” Netanyahu said.
Under the terms of the agreement, Israel will completely withdraw from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah will move its heavy weapons north of the Litani River, about 16 miles (25 kilometers) north of the border.
In remarks from the White House Rose Garden, Mr. Biden said: “This is aimed at a permanent cessation of hostilities. I stress that the legacy of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations cannot be allowed to threaten Israel's security again.
“Today's announcement is an important step… so I applaud the courageous decisions taken by Lebanese and Israeli leaders to end the violence,” he continued. “It reminds us that peace is possible. Say it again, peace is possible.”
The agreement is a rare boost for Biden as he prepares to leave the White House on January 20 and hand over to President-elect Donald Trump.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the agreement, saying it was “the culmination of months of work in close coordination with the United States and with the Israeli and Lebanese authorities.”
in a statement posted onlinePresident Macron said the agreement “should turn the page for Lebanon,” but “we must not forget that war continues to plague Gaza and France is committed there to an end to hostilities and the release of hostages.” , and continue our efforts to provide large-scale humanitarian assistance.” ”
He added: “This agreement also paves the way for a ceasefire that has taken too long to arrive in the face of untold suffering for Gazans.”
Leaders around the world echoed his views. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said some relief would be provided to civilians in Lebanon and northern Israel, urging progress towards a ceasefire in Gaza. EU Prime Minister Ursula von der Leyen said the deal would increase Lebanon's “internal security and stability” and welcomed the “very encouraging news”.
Despite the planned announcement of the deal, Israel stepped up airstrikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut and other parts of the country, killing 18 people, according to the country's health authorities.
The ceasefire was signed with less than two months left in the Biden administration's term.
A White House official acknowledged that President Trump's national security team had been briefed on the ceasefire plan and said the incoming presidential administration is expected to maintain support for the plan.
“They seem to support it,” an administration official said. “And what they agreed was, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said earlier, this is good for Israel, it’s good for Lebanon as the Lebanese government has said, it’s good for U.S. national security. For obvious reasons. And most importantly, doing it now instead of later can save countless lives on both sides.”
Hezbollah did not directly participate in ceasefire negotiations, but was mediated on its behalf by Navi Berri, speaker of the Lebanese parliament.
U.S. efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have failed to reach an agreement, but the agreement has no direct impact on fighting in Gaza. Tuesday's ceasefire negotiations were reportedly prompted by the decision to withdraw from the Gaza talks, where the conflict remains unresolvable.
But when asked about the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza, Biden said: i hope so. I'm praying. ”
