Nigeria, Nov. 27 -- A ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah took effect on Wednesday, November 27, ending more than 13 months of conflict that devastated parts of Lebanon and northern Israel.

The agreement, brokered by the United States and France, is being hailed as a rare diplomatic breakthrough in a region fraught with wars and proxy conflicts.

The deal requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon and for Israeli troops to withdraw gradually over the next 60 days. Lebanon's army, tasked with ensuring the truce holds, began preparing to deploy to the heavily bombarded border areas.

"This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities," U.S. President Joe Biden said during a ...