US President Joe Biden on Tuesday welcomed as "good news" an America and French-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, saying he hoped it could be a springboard to peace in Gaza also.
The deal will come into force at 4:00 am local time (0200 GMT) Wednesday, Biden said as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced his ministers had approved the agreement.
"I have some good news to report from the Middle East," Biden, who is due to leave office in less than two months, said in a speech in the Rose Garden of the White House, AFP reported.
"I just spoke with the prime ministers of Israel and Lebanon and I'm pleased to announce that their governments have accepted the United States' proposal to end the devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah."
He thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for his "partnership in reaching this moment."
The deal is a rare boost for Biden as he prepares to leave the White House and hand over to President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.
Joe Biden said the deal was designed to be a "permanent cessation of hostilities" between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, after more than a year of cross-border fire and two months of all-out war in Lebanon.
bd-pratidin/GR
