Ceasefire between Israel, Hezbollah takes immediate effect as residents hope to see end of hostilities
Captain Hector Alonso Garcia of the Spanish UNIFIL battalion at an observation tower in Abbassiyeh, a Lebanese border village with Israel, on January 10, 2024 [File: Hussein Malla/AP Photo]
A ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took effect at 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday, marking a pause in hostilities after more than 14 months of deadly conflict.
The agreement, brokered by the United States, France, and Israel, aims to achieve a “permanent cessation of hostilities,” according to US President Joe Biden.
Attacks continued up until the ceasefire deadline, with Israel issuing evacuation orders for parts of Beirut and launching airstrikes shortly before, while Hezbollah sent drones into Israeli territory.
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Minutes into the ceasefire, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) cautioned southern Lebanon residents against returning to evacuated villages, promising updates on when it would be safe. Despite this, Reuters reported vehicles heading south, packed with belongings, as displaced residents sought to return to their homes.
Under the agreement, Israel will gradually withdraw troops from southern Lebanon over a 60-day period, while Hezbollah is required to remove fighters and weapons from the area south of the Litani River, a boundary established after the 2006 conflict. Lebanese government forces will replace Hezbollah in the region.
The US and France, alongside an existing UN mechanism, will oversee compliance with the agreement to maintain calm.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire, calling it a “fundamental step towards restoring calm and stability.” He urged Israel to fully honor its commitments, withdraw from occupied sites, and respect the UN resolution.
The conflict has been Lebanon’s deadliest in decades, claiming over 3,823 lives according to local officials, and displacing thousands. While the ceasefire offers hope for peace, both sides remain wary as the region grapples with the aftermath of prolonged violence.
