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Israel-Gaza-Lebanon live updates: American hostage's father makes plea to Biden and Trump

Edan Alexander has been captive since Oct. 7.

Last Updated: December 1, 2024, 5:29 PM EST

A ceasefire went into effect at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday morning after Israel's Cabinet approved the U.S.-backed proposal to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah after prolonged negotiations.

The Israel Defense Forces continues its intense airstrike and ground campaigns in Gaza, particularly in the north of the devastated Palestinian territory.

Tensions also remain high between Israel and Iran after tit-for-tat long-range strikes in recent months and threats of further military action from both sides.

Nov 27, 2024, 7:27 AM EST

Hezbollah allies welcome Israel ceasefire

Hezbollah allies on Wednesday praised the group for securing its ceasefire deal with Israel.

In a press conference Wednesday morning, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran supports "ending Israel's aggression against Lebanon as a part of the ceasefire."

People pose for a picture on a burned Hezbollah rocket launcher in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Tibnit on Nov. 27, 2024.
Mahmoud Zayat/AFP via Getty Images

Iran -- the founder and director of the so-called "Axis of Resistance" of which Hezbollah is a key element -- maintains "unwavering support for the Lebanese government, people and resistance," Baqaei said.

Hamas, meanwhile, said in an official statement that it welcomed the ceasefire and praised Hezbollah's support of Palestinians, as well as the "great sacrifices" of the group's members including late leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Israel's acceptance of the deal, Hamas added, is a "milestone" in "destroying" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "illusions of changing the map of the Middle East by force and his illusions of defeating or disarming the resistance forces."

Yemen's Houthis -- who have been attacking shipping and launching long-range strikes into Israel -- also praised Hezbollah's "steadfastness," framing the ceasefire deal as an Israeli defeat.

"The conflict with the Zionist enemy is an inevitable conflict and the wars with it are rounds in a conflict that will inevitably end with its demise," the Iran-backed group said in a statement.

-ABC News' Ghazi Balkiz, Samy Zyara and Somayeh Malekian

Nov 27, 2024, 6:08 AM EST

IDF attacked 'dozens' of targets in hours before ceasefire

The Israel Defense Forces said its warplanes bombed "dozens" of Hezbollah targets across Lebanon in the hours leading up to the Wednesday morning ceasefire.

A man walks next to a destroyed building in Beirut's southern suburbs on Nov. 27, 2024.
Ibrahim Amro/AFP via Getty Images

The IDF said in a post to social media that the targets included "Hezbollah command centers, launchers, weapons storage facilities and terrorist infrastructure sites in Beirut, Tyre and Nabatieh."

The IDF also struck "several smuggling routes between Syria and Lebanon, which were used by Hezbollah to smuggle weaponry," the force said.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Nov 27, 2024, 5:47 AM EST

Lebanese army preparing to deploy south after ceasefire

The Lebanese Armed Forces said in a Wednesday morning statement that it was "taking the necessary measures to complete the deployment in the south as mandated by the Lebanese government" after the ceasefire deal with Israel came into effect.

Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri heading into southern Lebanon following the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, on Nov. 27, 2024.
Hussein Malla/AP

The ceasefire agreement stipulates that Lebanese troops will take up positions in the south of the country and prevent the return of Hezbollah forces -- who are expected to withdraw north of the Litani River -- to the area.

LAF commander General Joseph Aoun met with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Wednesday to discuss the security situation in the south of the country, a statement posted to Mikati's X channel said.

The LAF is expected to deploy around 5,000 troops to the area as part of the 60-day ceasefire. United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon soldiers will remain in southern Lebanon to assist.

Israeli troops are expected to withdraw from their positions in south Lebanon in phases during the same timeframe.

-ABC News' Joe Simonetti

Nov 27, 2024, 5:30 AM EST

Israel ceasefire 'a test for all Lebanese,' parliament speaker says

Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri said in a Wednesday address that the nascent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is "a test for all Lebanese, from all sects, to save their country and protect its constitutional institutions."

Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri is pictured during a meeting with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Beirut, Lebanon, on Nov. 24, 2024.
Hassan Ammar/AP

Berri -- the leader of the Hezbollah-allied Amal Movement who has been negotiating on Hezbollah's behalf -- said the Lebanese "people were able to neutralize the effects of the Israeli aggression" and saluted late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September.

"We call on all our displaced people in all our regions and the sister countries that hosted them to return," Berri added. "We are in dire need of national unity among all the Lebanese people."

Berri called for the "speedy election" of a new Lebanese president and thanked all those "who contributed to the ceasefire."

Hezbollah is yet to issue any official statement on the ceasefire, which went into effect at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday.

-ABC News' Ghazi Balkiz and Joe Simonetti

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