Lebanon’s prime minister welcomes cease-fire agreement with Israel

By Yusuf Alioğlu

BEIRUT (AA) - Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah late Tuesday, urging Israel to fully comply with the terms of the agreement and withdraw from all Lebanese territories it occupies.

Mikati made the statement following a phone call with US President Joe Biden, who had earlier announced that both Lebanon and Israel had agreed to the cease-fire, which is set to take effect Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT).

According to the Lebanese National News Agency, Mikati thanked Biden “for America's support for Lebanon and the efforts made by his envoy, Amos Hochstein, in brokering the cease-fire agreement.”

The Lebanese prime minister expressed his “welcome of the decision to halt the fighting in Lebanon, with assistance from the US and France in arranging the cease-fire.”

“This agreement, which outlines the roadmap for the cease-fire, was shared with me this evening. It is a crucial step toward restoring peace and stability in Lebanon as well as facilitating the return of displaced persons to their homes and cities. It also contributes to establishing regional stability,” he added.

Mikati reiterated his government's commitment to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for a stronger presence of the Lebanese Army in the south and cooperation with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

He urged “all nations and international institutions to take responsibility in this regard.”

In return, Mikati called for “Israel's full compliance with the cease-fire and its withdrawal from all areas it occupies in Lebanon, in accordance with Resolution 1701.”|

Resolution 1701, adopted on Aug. 11, 2006, calls for a complete halt to hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel and the establishment of a weapons-free zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River in southern Lebanon, with exceptions for the Lebanese army and UNIFIL.

Hezbollah has not yet issued a statement on the agreement.

Earlier, Israel’s security cabinet approved the cease-fire agreement with Lebanon.

“The Security Cabinet, this evening, in a 10-1 vote, approved the US proposal for a cease-fire arrangement in Lebanon,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

“Israel appreciates the US contribution to the process and maintains its right to act against any threat to its security,” the statement added.

Israel has escalated airstrikes in Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets as part of year-long warfare against the Lebanese group since the start of the Gaza war last year.

More than 3,760 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with nearly 15,700 injured and over 1 million displaced since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.​​​​​​​

Israel expanded the conflict by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1 this year.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio