Ceasefire Between Israel and Hezbollah Offers Hope for Stability in Southern Lebanon
A ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has taken effect in southern Lebanon after nearly 14 months of fighting that raised fears of a broader regional conflict. The ceasefire commenced at 4 am local time, but the Israeli military has cautioned civilians against returning to their homes in southern Lebanon and approaching Israeli positions for the time being. Despite these warnings, convoys of civilians have crossed into southern Lebanon, disregarding both the Israeli alerts and appeals from the Lebanese Army, which is poised to replace Israeli forces in the area.
Hezbollah is categorized as a terrorist organization by the United States, and its military faction is blacklisted by the European Union. The ceasefire was overwhelmingly passed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, with Netanyahu's office announcing the decision on November 26, marking a significant movement towards peace between Israel and Hezbollah militants.
The announcement of the truce was met with approval from U.S. President Joe Biden, who referred to it as a fresh start for Lebanon and a demonstration that peace is achievable after nearly 14 months of cross-border hostilities that forced tens of thousands of Israelis to flee and resulted in thousands of Lebanese casualties. Netanyahu's office indicated that the plan was approved with a vote of 10-1. In the face of the ceasefire, Netanyahu assured that Israel would respond vigorously if Hezbollah violated the agreement.
In the hours preceding the ceasefire, Israel conducted intense airstrikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation alerts. Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed to have launched drones toward Israel amidst ongoing cross-border fire. In a televised speech, Netanyahu refrained from specifying how long the truce would last but stated that its duration would depend on developments in Lebanon.
Netanyahu warned, "If Hezbollah violates the agreement and attempts to rearm, we will strike. If they try to renew terror activities near the border, we will strike. If they launch a rocket, dig a tunnel, or bring in a truck with missiles, we will strike."
This ceasefire represents the first significant step toward halting the violence that escalated following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which both the U.S. and the EU designated as terrorism. Importantly, this truce does not directly influence Israel's ongoing military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Shortly after the truce was established, Hamas expressed its readiness for a similar ceasefire.
On November 26, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would now concentrate its efforts on Hamas and on releasing hostages captured during the October 7 attack. He noted that with Hezbollah sidelined, Hamas is left to confront Israel alone. "We will increase our pressure on Hamas, and that will aid us in our sacred mission to release our hostages," he asserted.
Biden reaffirmed that Israel maintains the right to resume military operations in Lebanon should Hezbollah breach the terms of the ceasefire. "This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities," Biden remarked at the White House after the announcement from Netanyahu. He reiterated that both sides must be afforded safe returns to their communities over the next 60 days. The ceasefire mandates Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon while the Lebanese Army is expected to deploy around 5,000 troops in the area, with Hezbollah ceasing its armed presence along the border south of the Litani River.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire, deeming it a foundational step toward establishing calm and stability within Lebanon. The war has claimed the lives of at least 3,799 people in Lebanon since October 2023, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. On the Israeli side, authorities report at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians have died due to the hostilities.
This escalation in Lebanon followed almost a year of sporadic cross-border exchanges of fire initiated by Hezbollah. Meanwhile, reports from Syria's Defense Ministry indicated that six individuals were killed in Israeli strikes on border crossings with Lebanon shortly after midnight on November 27, just hours before the ceasefire took effect.
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