A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah is set to take effect at 4AM local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday, following months of devastating conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese. The truce, brokered with the mediation of the United States and France, was announced late Tuesday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and confirmed in a later speech by US President Joe Biden. The agreement comes after intense fighting that has left at least 3,102 people dead and 13,819 injured across Lebanon, according to the country’s Ministry of Health. Biden described the ceasefire as “good news,” emphasizing that it was designed to bring about a “permanent cessation of hostilities.” However, echoing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, he reiterated that Israel reserves the right to defend itself if the deal is violated. International Praise for Ceasefire Deal The truce has been welcomed by leaders worldwide. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati described the agreement as a “fundamental step towards restoring calm and stability in Lebanon” and an opportunity to enable displaced persons to return to their homes. Mikati also affirmed Lebanon’s commitment to implementing United…
