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A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon came into effect at 4:00 a.m. local time on November 27, bringing an end to almost 14 months of fighting which began the day after the war broke out in the Gaza Strip.
The ceasefire was announced late on November 26 by United States President Joe Biden, who said that the agreement was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities” between Israel and Lebanon.
The agreement will reportedly provide for a 60-day transition period. During this period, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, while the Lebanese Armed Forces will deploy some 5,000 troops south of the Litani river, including at 33 posts along the border with Israel.
Hezbollah forces are supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon during the period. The military infrastructure of the group is also supposed to be dismantled.
In addition, Hebrew media reported that the U.S. had provided a side letter specifying Israel’s rights to respond to violations of the ceasefire, should there be any.
Israel’s national security cabinet officially approved the ceasefire agreement by a majority of ten ministers to one before it was announced by Biden.
Hezbollah also announced that it accepts the ceasefire proposal. However, a senior official with the group said that it had yet to see the agreement in its final form.
“After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network.
“We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state.” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused,” he added.
The IDF and Hezbollah exchange fire in the final hours leading to the ceasefire, with more than 20 Israeli strikes hitting the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and multiple heavy rockets being launched from Lebanon at the central Israeli city of Tel Aviv.
As the ceasefire entered into effect, celebrations were reported in Beirut. However, Colonel Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman, warned Lebanese civilians to not yet return to southern Lebanon where Israeli troops were still present.
“With the ceasefire agreement coming into effect, and in accordance with its provisions, the IDF continues to be prepared in its positions in southern Lebanon,” Adraee said. “Do not move towards the villages that the IDF evacuated or towards IDF forces in the area. For your protection and the safety of your families, avoid reaching the area.”
Despite the Israeli warning, streams of cars carrying displaced people were observed on several roads heading to southern Lebanon.
The conflict, which broke out when Hezbollah began launching attacks against Israel in support of Gaza, claimed the lives of 3,823 in Lebanon and at least 119 others in Israel. While the U.S.-brokered ceasefire has ended the fighting, the conflict is not yet resolved. Israel has already warned that it would respond to any violation by Hezbollah.
Speaking just before the ceasefire was announced, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the IDF “will attack” Lebanon if Hezbollah tries to rebuild “the terror infrastructure” near the border, fires a rocket, digs a tunnel, or brings in “a truck with missiles.”
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