India praises Israel-Hezbollah truce: Always called for de-escalation, restraint

Under the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement which took effect today, the Jewish nation will gradually withdraw its forces over 60 days as Lebanon's army takes control of territory near the countries' border.

In Short

• India hopes Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire will lead to peace, stability
• Under ceasefire, Israel to withdraw troops over 60 days
• Calls for two-month initial halt in fighting

India on Wednesday welcomed Israel and Hezbollah reaching a ceasefire agreement brokered by the US and France aimed at ending the nearly 14-month cross-border hostilities that have turned into one of the deadliest conflicts in Lebanon in decades.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said India has "always called for de-escalation, restraint and a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy".

"We hope these developments will lead to peace and stability in the wider region," it added.

The ceasefire came more than a year after the Iran-backed Hezbollah struck Israel, soon after the Jewish nation was attacked by Hamas, resulting in the ongoing war in Gaza.

As part of the agreement which came into effect today, Israel will gradually withdraw its forces over 60 days as Lebanon's army takes control of territory near its border with the Jewish nation.

It also calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in the area south of the Litani River, a boundary established at the end of the last Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006.

Meanwhile, thousands of additional Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers will be deployed in the south, and an international panel headed by the US will monitor the compliance.

The Israel-Hezbollah conflict has so far killed more than 3,820 people, in what has been one of Lebanon's deadliest in decades.

Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, hostilities continued on Tuesday as Israel ramped up its military campaign in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, resulting in the death of 18 people. The Iran-backed Hezbollah also kept up rocket fire into Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also warned Hezbollah against violating the ceasefire.

"The length of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon... If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. If it tries to rebuild terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck carrying rockets, we will attack," he said in a video address late Tuesday night.