A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah will take effect on Wednesday after both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France, US President Joseph Biden said.
The accord, which paves the way for an end to a conflict that has killed thousands since the Gaza war ignited last year, was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities, Biden said in a statement at the White House.
Fighting across the border between Israel and Lebanon will end at 4 a.m. local time, Biden said.
"This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities," he said. "What remains of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed to threaten Israel's security again."
Israel will gradually withdraw its forces over a period of 60 days while the Lebanese army takes control of territory near the border with Israel to ensure that Hezbollah does not rebuild its infrastructure there, Biden said.
"Civilians from both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities," he said.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib earlier said the Lebanese army would be ready to have at least 5.000 troops deployed in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops withdraw, Reuters reports.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said he was ready to implement the cease-fire agreement and would respond strongly to any violations by Hezbollah, declaring that Israel would retain "full military freedom of action."
Netanyahu, who faces some opposition to the deal within his coalition government, said the ceasefire would allow Israel to focus on the threat from Iran, replenish depleted arms stocks and give the military a break, and isolate Hamas, the militant group that started a war in the region when Israel attacked from Gaza last year.
"We will implement the agreement and respond strongly to any violation. Together we will continue to victory," Netanyahu said.
"In full coordination with the United States, we maintain full military freedom of action. If Hezbollah violates the agreement or attempts to rearm, we will strike decisively.
Netanyahu said Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and is an ally of Hamas, was significantly weaker than it was at the start of the conflict.
"We have set it back decades, eliminated ... its top leaders, destroyed most of its rockets and missiles, neutralized thousands of fighters and destroyed years of terrorist infrastructure near our border," he said.
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