A 60-day ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed faction Hezbollah came into effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday, local time, 13 months after a surprise attack on Israel in October 2023 by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The ceasefire, brokered by the U.S. and France, also comes some two months after the Israeli military declared its “Northern Arrows” operation against Hezbollah in September, launching a ground offensive in southern Lebanon for the first time in 18 years.

According to AFP and Reuters, Israel’s security Cabinet approved the deal in a ten-to-one vote and U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati about the ceasefire.

Biden said the deal is “designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities” and that Israel has agreed to withdraw forces in the next 60 days as the Lebanese military takes control of territory near the border with Israel.

In a video message, Netanyahu said the ceasefire is intended to allow Israel to focus on the threat from Iran, give its military an opportunity to rest and replenish supplies, and isolate Hamas.

The Israeli prime minister said he will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah.

Iran, which backs Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthi rebels who have attacked Israel from Yemen, said it welcomes the ceasefire.