And cease fire in the war between Israel and the Islamist movement Hezbollah came into effect on Wednesday Lebanon, after more than a year of clashes that have left thousands dead.
The truce came into force at 2:00 a.m. (Grenwich Mean time) and should put an end to a war that forced the displacement of tens of thousands of people in Israel and hundreds of thousands more in Lebanon.
Large areas of Lebanon have suffered the onslaught of Israeli bombing, whose forces entered Lebanese territory to confront Hezbollah fighters.
The conflict began with cross-border attacks by Hezbollah in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas, following its attacks on October 7, 2023 in Israeli territory.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu assured that the truce that will allow Israeli forces to concentrate on tensions with Iran and the war with Hamas in Gaza.
Netanyahu spoke by phone with the American president, Joe Biden and thanked him for “his involvement” in reaching the agreement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office reported.
The truce between Israel and Hezbollah represents a “essential step” for regional stability, reacted the Lebanese prime minister. Nayib Mikati.
Along with the war in Lebanon, Israel has been fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip since the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement in the south of its territory.
Both Hamas and Hezbollah are supported by Iran which fired two volleys of missiles and drones against Israel since the conflict in Gaza began. Most of the projectiles where intercepted by Israel or its allies.
the duration of the ceasefire, Netanyahu said, will depend “on what happens in Lebanon” and Israel will maintain, “in full agreement with USA“, a “total freedom of action” in the country.
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“If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he stressed.
Tension between Israel and Lebanon before calm
The truce comes after a day of intense Israeli shelling in the center of Beirut where they died at least 10 personas according to Lebanese authorities.
Less than an hour before its entry into force, the Israeli army bombed southern suburbs of Beirut, according to images from AFPTV.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah – which has not commented on the truce – announced Tuesday night that it had launched drones against “sensitive military targets” in Tel Aviv in response to the Israeli attacks in Beirut.
Israel launched a bombing campaign against Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon on September 23 and a ground operation in the south of the country a week later.
With this, Israel sought to neutralize hezbollah in southern Lebanon to secure its border and allow the return of 60,000 displaced residents.
The truce will “protect” Israel from the “threat” of the Shiite group, affirmed the presidents of the united States and France, biden y Emmanuel Macron in a joint statement.
Both countries “will work together with Israel and Lebanon to guarantee full compliance with this agreement,” they added.
According to the American website Axios the agreement negotiated in recent days provides for a 60-day truce. During that time, Hezbollah and the Israeli army would withdraw from southern Lebanon to allow Lebanese troops to deploy to the area.
Following the declaration,the Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati indicated that his government was committed to “reinforcing the presence of the army in the south of the country.”
International surveillance
The ceasefire plan also includes the creation of an international committee to monitor its implementation and the United States has promised to support Israeli military actions in the event of opposed acts by Hezbollah,he added. Axios.
Mediation is based on resolution 1701 of the Security Council of the HIM which ended the previous war between Israel and Hezbollah,in 2006, and which stipulates that only the Lebanese army and peacekeepers can be deployed on Lebanon’s southern border.
But the minister of Israel National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir called the truce agreement a “historical error.”
“This agreement does not fulfill the objective of the war: to allow the inhabitants of the north to return home in complete safety,” reacted the far-right politician.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, almost 3,800 people have died in the country from October 2023.
The hostilities also displaced about 900 thousand people according to the UN. On the Israeli side they died 47 civilians and 82 military in 13 months.
The Israeli army continues its attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip, where at least 22 people died on Tuesday, according to Civil Defense.
The war broke out after the unprecedented attack launched by Hamas against Israel that killed 1,207 people mostly civilians, according to a count of AFP based on official data, including hostages killed or held captive.
The Israeli offensive launched in retaliation in Gaza has left at least 44 thousand 249 dead the majority civilians, according to data from the Ministry of Health of the territory, considered reliable by the UN.
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How does the involvement of Iran complicate the ceasefire and the overall peace process in the region?
interview between Time.news Editor and Middle East Conflict Expert
Time.news Editor: Good morning, and thank you for joining us today. With the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah coming into affect after a devastating year of conflict, we have a lot to unpack. Can you give us a brief overview of how we arrived at this ceasefire?
Expert: Good morning! Certainly. The conflict escalated dramatically following the attacks on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched assaults on Israeli territory. In solidarity with Hamas, Hezbollah initiated cross-border attacks. This prompted Israel to respond with notable military force, which led to extensive bombing in Lebanon and resulted in massive casualties and displacement on both sides.
Editor: It’s heart-wrenching to see the human cost of these conflicts. the ceasefire has been framed as an “essential step” towards regional stability, especially by Lebanese Prime Minister Nayib Mikati. What does this ceasefire meen for Lebanon and israel moving forward?
Expert: The ceasefire indeed holds potential for stabilizing the region, but it’s precarious. It provides a necessary pause, allowing humanitarian aid to flow and perhaps stopping further escalation. However, both leaders, Netanyahu and Mikati, have highlighted that the duration of this truce is contingent upon Hezbollah’s actions and israel’s ongoing tensions with Iran. If Hezbollah is seen to violate the ceasefire, Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel will respond militarily.
Editor: Speaking of Iran, their involvement is crucial in this equation. How does Iran’s backing of both Hamas and Hezbollah influence the dynamics on the ground?
Expert: Iran’s support for these groups adds a layer of complexity. It bolsters their military capabilities and emboldens them in their confrontations with Israel. Moreover, Iran has been actively involved in aggressive posturing, exemplified by missile launches aimed at Israel during this conflict. israel remains vigilant and is prepared to intercept such threats, which could further complicate the ceasefire.
editor: What role does the U.S. play in this situation? We’ve seen Prime Minister Netanyahu express his gratitude toward President Biden for facilitating the ceasefire.
Expert: The U.S. plays a pivotal role as an ally of Israel. Biden’s involvement not only highlights American foreign policy interests in maintaining stability but also emphasizes the strategic alliance with Israel. The U.S. is highly likely to push for adherence to the ceasefire while maintaining a close watch on Iran’s activities in the region. Israel’s alignment with the U.S. means that they’ll have support for any necessary actions they decide to take in response to Iranian provocations or Hezbollah’s actions.
Editor: Considering all these factors, do you see this ceasefire as a long-term solution for the region, or is it simply a temporary halt to violence?
Expert: It’s hard to say definitively. Ceasefires in the region have often been temporary reprieves rather then long-term solutions.The underlying issues—territorial disputes, political grievances, and external influences—remain unresolved. However, this ceasefire does provide a crucial opportunity for dialog and potentially addressing some humanitarian needs. If both sides can use this moment effectively, it could pave the way for more enduring peace efforts in the future.
Editor: Thank you for sharing your insights. As the situation develops,we hope for a lasting peace in the region and for the safety of those affected by the conflict.
Expert: Thank you for having me. Let’s all hope for a resolution that prioritizes human welfare and stability.
Editor: Absolutely. We’ll continue to monitor the situation closely. Thank you to our audience for joining us today, and stay tuned for more updates on this pressing issue.