The question is whether the cease-fire in Lebanon that Biden announced Tuesday will be the coda to his diplomatic efforts in the Middle East or a steppingstone to agreements that could at last end the devastating war in the Gaza Strip and potentially even set the stage for a broader regional transformation.

Mike Waltz, the President-elect's national security advisor, said the prospect of Trump returning to office helped get the deal over the line.

The ceasefire announced Tuesday is a major step toward ending nearly 14 months of fighting sparked by the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

Hezbollah launched an attack on Israel the day after Hamas invaded on Oct. 7, 2023. Fighting has intensified in recent months.

Any deal would halt Israel’s war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, in a victory for negotiators after weeks of intense talks.

President Biden announced a permanent ceasefire has been agreed to between Israel and Lebanon's prime ministers

Biden called the Israel and Hezbollah ceasefire "good news" as the sides come to terms on an agreement to pause fighting.

President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a United States-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon.

Israel’s military said a cease-fire in Lebanon had taken effect early Wednesday morning, after two months of intense fighting between Israeli forces and Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.The deal,