A cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah appeared to be holding Wednesday after President Joe Biden said the agreement to end fighting across the Israeli-Lebanon border was “designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
Biden said Tuesday the United States and its partners, including France, “will make sure this deal is implemented fully” after it came into effect at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday (9 p.m. ET Tuesday).
The war has killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon and created a humanitarian catastrophe with some 1.2 million displaced from their homes. Around 80 Israeli soldiers and 50 civilians have died, and 60,000 forced from their homes.
“Let me be clear, if Hezbollah or anyone else breaks the deal, and poses a direct threat to Israel, then Israel retains the right to self-defense consistent with international law,” the president said from the White House.
