Beirut/Jerusalem — After 13 months of escalating hostilities, Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire that promises a temporary halt to the bloodshed. The truce, announced by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, is set to take effect Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time.

The agreement aims to end one of the region’s deadliest conflicts in recent years, marked by Israeli offensives against Hezbollah strongholds and Hezbollah’s barrage of rocket fire into northern Israel. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives, displaced over a million Lebanese civilians, and uprooted tens of thousands of Israelis from their homes.

Terms of the Ceasefire

The deal stipulates a 60-day cessation of hostilities, during which Hezbollah is to withdraw its forces 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of the Israel-Lebanon border. In parallel, Israeli ground troops will retreat from Lebanese territory. The ceasefire draws on the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was enacted after the 2006 war between the two sides.

Lebanon has committed to stricter oversight of Hezbollah’s activities south of the Litani River, where the group has historically maintained a presence. A multinational committee involving the Lebanese military, UN peacekeepers, and international observers will monitor compliance.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog emphasized that the agreement must ensure lasting security for Israel’s northern residents. “This ceasefire is correct and important, but we will not hesitate to act to protect our citizens,” Herzog stated.

Respite Amid Uncertainty

The truce provides a moment of relief for Lebanese and Israeli civilians who have endured months of relentless violence. Israeli airstrikes have devastated parts of Lebanon, including Beirut’s southern suburbs, while Hezbollah’s attacks have displaced over 60,000 Israelis from their northern communities.

Despite the agreement, analysts question its durability. Both sides have a history of violating ceasefires, with Israel conducting near-daily overflights in Lebanon and Hezbollah expanding its underground infrastructure in defiance of the 2006 agreement.

“Hezbollah’s concession to pull back north of the Litani River is significant, but whether it will stick remains to be seen,” said Middle East analyst Rami Khoury. “Both sides have much at stake, and any breach could reignite the conflict.”

Impact on Gaza Conflict

While the truce offers hope for stability on Israel’s northern border, it is unlikely to impact the ongoing war in Gaza. Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah had linked his group’s actions to the Gaza offensive, but regional experts suggest the Lebanon ceasefire does not signal a broader shift in Israel’s approach to Hamas.

“An agreement with Hezbollah means little for Gaza,” said HA Hellyer, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. “The dynamics in Gaza are distinct, and there is no sign of meaningful ceasefire negotiations there.”

Since the Gaza war began, over 44,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the territory’s health ministry, and nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been displaced. While Arab states and international bodies have called for an end to the violence, the United States recently vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an unconditional ceasefire, citing the need to link it to the release of hostages held by Hamas.

A Fragile Hope

The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough, but it remains fragile. Both sides have vowed to respond decisively to any violations.

For Lebanese civilians rebuilding their lives after months of devastation and Israelis returning to their homes in the north, the truce offers a moment of reprieve. Whether it will lead to lasting peace, however, is far from guaranteed.