Israel will gradually withdraw its forces over a 60-day period as the Lebanese army takes control of areas near the border with Israel to ensure Hezbollah does not rebuild its infrastructure there, Biden said.

“Civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities,” he said.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib earlier said the Lebanese army was ready to deploy at least 5,000 troops to southern Lebanon following the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

Netanyahu had previously said he was ready to implement a ceasefire agreement and would respond forcefully to any violation by Hezbollah, saying Israel would retain “complete military freedom of action.”

Netanyahu, who faces opposition to the deal within his coalition government, said the ceasefire would allow Israel to focus on the threat from Iran, replenish depleted arms supplies and give the army a break as well as the militant group Hamas isolate When it attacked Israel from Gaza last year, it sparked war in the region.

“We will enforce the agreement and respond vigorously to any violation. Together we will continue until victory,” Netanyahu said.

“In full coordination with the USA, we retain full military freedom of action. If Hezbollah violates the agreement or attempts to rearm, we will strike decisively.”

Netanyahu said Iran-backed and Hamas-allied Hezbollah was significantly weaker than it was at the start of the conflict.

“We have set it back by decades, … eliminating its top leaders, destroying most of its rockets and missiles, neutralizing thousands of militants and wiping out years of terror infrastructure near our border,” he said.