A cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah appeared to be holding Wednesday after President Joe Biden said the agreement to end fighting across the Israeli-Lebanon border was "designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.

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.

While the ceasefire largely held on Wednesday morning, Israel said it identified Hezbollah operatives returning to areas near the border and had opened fire to prevent them from coming closer.