Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah appeared to come to halt overnight as a ceasefire deal brokered by the U.S. and France went into effect. The deal calls for an initial 60-day pause in fighting but is intended to become permanent, according to U.S. President Joe Biden. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel also agreed to return its troops to its side of the border, while Hezbollah is required to end its armed presence—including both fighters and weaponry—in southern Lebanon.
(Read more on the deal from AP and see maps from the New York Times.)
Our Take
A lot of questions still surround the ceasefire agreement, beginning with its implementation and durability. But the fact that it was reached at all clarifies a number of issues. On one side, it shows that Israel’s military objectives against Hezbollah in Lebanon were much more limited than those against Hamas in Gaza. The government of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is apparently satisfied with significantly weakening Hezbollah and creating a demilitarized zone in southern Lebanon, but remains intent on the total eradication of Hamas.