AMN

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah and said India has always called for “de-escalation, restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy”.

“We welcome the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that has been announced. We have always called for de-escalation, restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. We hope these developments will lead to peace and stability in the wider region,” said a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah reached a ceasefire after months of deadly clashes that stemmed from the Israel-Gaza conflict but escalated in September this year, after several leaders of the Lebanese militant group were killed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked outgoing US President Joe Biden for his “involvement in securing the ceasefire agreement”. He told Biden in a call that he appreciated the US leader’s “understanding that Israel will maintain its freedom of action in enforcing it”, according to Netanyahu’s office.