WASHINGTON, November 27. /TASS/. Agreements between Israel and Lebanon’s Shia organization Hezbollah envisage that Lebanese forces are to regain control over their territory within 60 days, outgoing US President Joe Biden told reporters at the White House.
"Over the next 60 days, the Lebanese army and state security forces will deploy and take control of their own territory," Biden said. "And over the next 60 days, Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces."
"Civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities, and begin to rebuild their homes, their schools, their farms, their businesses and their very lives," he added.
"Under the deal reached today, effective at 4:00 a.m. [2:00 a.m. GMT Wednesday] tomorrow local time, the fighting across the Lebanese-Israeli border will end. This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities," Biden said. "What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed — will — I emphasize — will not be allowed to threaten the security of Israel again," Biden went on.
"We’re determined this conflict will not be just another cycle of violence. And so, the United States, with the full support of France and our other allies, has pledged to work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure that this arrangement is fully implemented," he added.
On September 23, Israel launched an operation codenamed Northern Arrows against the Shia organization Hezbollah and massive airstrikes on its military facilities. One of the strikes killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrullah in Beirut on September 27. Hezbollah confirmed his death and vowed to continue confronting Israel. In the early hours of October 1, the Israeli army announced a limited ground operation in border areas in southern Lebanon.