A ceasefire deal that could end more than a year of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group won backing from Israeli leaders Tuesday, raising hopes and renewing difficult questions in a region gripped by conflict.

Israel will gradually withdraw its forces over 60 days as Lebanon's army takes control of territory near its border with Israel to ensure that Hezbollah does not rebuild its infrastructure there.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect Wednesday morning in Lebanon. As part of the deal, brokered by the United States, Israel will gradually withdraw its forces from Lebanon over the next 60 days and Hezbollah would not entrench itself near the Israeli border.