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States — After two months of all-out war between Israel and Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a ceasefire deal brokered by the United States and France is meant to end the devastating conflict.
The ceasefire is aimed at facilitating the peaceful withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon over the next 60 days, a senior US official with knowledge of the negotiations said.
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The ceasefire will go into effect at 4:00 am local time Wednesday in Israel and Lebanon (0200 GMT), at which point “all fire will stop from all parties,” the US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters.
Israeli forces will hold their positions, but “a 60-day period will start in which the Lebanese military and security forces will begin their deployment towards the south,” the official said.
That will give them time to reach the Israeli positions, at which point Israel can begin a phased withdrawal without any vacuum forming that could see Hezbollah or others rush in, the official explained.
The withdrawal should take no longer than 60 days, the official said.
Hezbollah must also withdraw from the southern border with Israel and move further north up the Litani River — something it has not done despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for it in 2006 (UN Resolution 1701).
