Biden Announces Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Agreement

US President Joe Biden announced a US and France-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, marking a 'historic' step towards peace after 14 months of conflict. The ceasefire, effective from Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time, aims to be a permanent cessation of hostilities, with Israel beginning a gradual withdrawal of troops from Lebanon over 60 days. Lebanese forces will take control of southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its infrastructure. Biden credited French President Emmanuel Macron for his role in the negotiations and emphasized that Hezbollah and other militant threats to Israel must not be tolerated. The ceasefire is seen as a precursor to further peace efforts in the region, including a new US-led push for a Gaza ceasefire. Biden, looking to end his term with a significant diplomatic achievement, reiterated the importance of broader peace in the Middle East, including potential normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel.