Foreign Ministry welcomes Israel-Lebanon ceasefire

The Foreign Ministry has welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, describing it is "as a positive initial step towards lasting peace in the region."

"We urge all parties involved to implement this deal for the benefit of all civilians and regional stability," the ministry said on X.

"We commend our partners and allies, the United States and France, for their significant diplomatic efforts."

The ceasefire appeared to be holding, as residents in cars heaped with belongings streamed back toward southern Lebanon despite warnings from the Israeli and Lebanese militaries that they stay away from certain areas.

If it holds, the ceasefire would bring an end to nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated in mid-September into all-out war and threatened to pull Hezbollah's patron Iran and Israel into a broader...