Washington | A ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group came into effect on Wednesday, after US President Joe Biden announced the agreement, raising hopes of an end to long-running fighting that could defuse a broader regional crisis.

Mr Biden said the ceasefire in Israel and Lebanon was intended to end the war between the two sides, saying it was “designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly embraced the proposal after his security cabinet approved the US-France-brokered deal.