Netanyahu: Ceasefire agreed with Hezbollah

Truce calms fear of all-out Middle East war

- Josef Federman

ISRAEL backed a US-brokered ceasefire deal with Lebanon's Hezbollah militants last night.

The green light by Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet paves the way to ending nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the Gaza war and conflict with Iran.

Lebanese officials said Hezbollah also supports the deal.

But moments after US President Joe Biden announced the deal, Israeli air strikes shook Lebanon capital Beirut. It was not clear when the truce would begin.

In the UK, PM Sir Keir Starmer said: "Today's long overdue ceasefire will provide some measure of relief to the civilian populations of Lebanon and northern Israel, who have suffered unimaginable consequences during the last few months of devastating conflict and bloodshed. Now, this deal must be turned into a lasting political solution in Lebanon... that will allow civilians to return permanently to their homes and for communities on both sides of the border to rebuild."