A ceasefire took effect on Wednesday between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon after more than a year of fighting that has left thousands dead.
The ceasefire, which began at 4:00 a.m. (0200 GMT), should stop the war that has forced thousands of people in Israel and hundreds of thousands in Lebanon to flee their homes.
The war has seen air strikes hit parts of Lebanon and Israeli troops have been deployed across the border to fight Hezbollah militants.
It began with Hezbollah launching cross-border attacks in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas following the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
US President Joe Biden announced the ceasefire agreement on Tuesday, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his ministers had agreed to the pause.
The United States is a major ally and military supporter of Israel, and Biden described the deal as “good news” and a “new beginning” for Lebanon.
Netanyahu thanked Biden for joining the deal and said it would allow Israel to focus on Hamas in Gaza and Iran.
Netanyahu said that under the terms of the Lebanon ceasefire, Israel would maintain “complete” freedom to act against Hezbollah if the Iran-backed group poses a new threat.
Lebanon says at least 3,823 people have been killed in the country since the shooting began in October 2023, most of them in the past several weeks as Israel stepped up its campaign against Hezbollah.
On the Israeli side, at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians have been killed in hostilities with Hezbollah, officials say.
The hours before the armistice came into effect were some of the most violent hours of the war.
Israel launched several strikes on the center of the Lebanese capital on Tuesday, while Hezbollah claimed attacks on northern Israel after the ceasefire was announced.
Hezbollah did not participate in any direct negotiations for a ceasefire, with Lebanese parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri mediating on its behalf.
It has not yet commented formally on the ceasefire.
focus on iran
The war in Lebanon has largely weakened Hezbollah but not crushed it.
It lost its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah in a major airstrike in September, as well as several top commanders in other attacks.
Netanyahu said a ceasefire in Lebanon would allow Israel to redirect its efforts to Gaza, where it has been at war with Hamas since October last year.
“When Hezbollah is out of the picture, Hamas will be left alone in the fight. Our pressure on it will increase,” Netanyahu said.
He said the agreement would enable “focus on the Iranian threat” and give Israel time to resupply the military.
Iran is the main supporter of both Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as other regional proxies that claim to be at war with Israel.
Iran itself has fired two missiles and drones at Israel since the war in Gaza began, most of which were intercepted by Israel or its allies.
Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel have forced thousands of Israelis from their homes, and Israeli officials have said they are fighting so they can return safely.
Some northerners questioned whether this would be possible under the armistice.
“In my opinion, it would be a serious mistake to sign any agreement until Hezbollah is completely eliminated,” said Maryam Younes, a 29-year-old student from Maalot-Tarshiha.
‘blow’
The United Nations says about 900,000 people have been forced to flee their homes because of the war in Lebanon.
Biden said the cease-fire agreement was designed to lead to a “permanent cessation of hostilities” between Israel and Hezbollah.
Under the agreement, the Lebanese army would take control of its side of the border and “what remains of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed…to again threaten Israel’s security”, He said.
Hezbollah was the only armed group that refused to hand over its weapons after the end of the 1975–1990 Lebanese civil war.
To date, the group maintains a strong presence in parts of Lebanon and its arsenal is believed to be more powerful than that of the national army.
Divided Lebanon has been in crisis for years and will struggle to return to normal even after a ceasefire.
The United States and France will ensure that the deal is fully implemented, Biden said.
Netanyahu said in his speech that Israel would maintain “complete” freedom of action even after the ceasefire.
The announcements followed a wave of attacks on Hezbollah strongholds in central Beirut as well as the southern suburbs.
A strike hit the normally busy Hamra district, home to residential buildings, restaurants, offices, shops, the American University of Beirut and its associated hospital.
Earlier, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that three attacks hit the central Nawari neighborhood and destroyed “a four-story building housing displaced people.”
The Health Ministry said one of those attacks killed seven people and injured 37 others.
“We were blown away and the walls fell on us,” said Rola Jaafar, who lives in the building opposite.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
