A cease-fire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, brokered through US and French mediation, came into force on Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT).
The conflict, deeply rooted in Hezbollah’s pro-Palestinian stance and Lebanon’s solidarity with Palestine, intensified after Hamas launched its cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. Hezbollah’s subsequent missile, rocket, and drone attacks targeted Israeli positions, escalating violence along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Hezbollah stated that its actions were intended to pressure Israel into halting its military operations in Gaza.
Israel responded with extensive airstrikes across Lebanon and launched a ground invasion in the southern regions.
The clashes resulted in heavy losses for Israeli forces, particularly in Hezbollah-controlled southern Lebanon.
Israeli ground troops faced intense resistance, with significant casualties reported during the campaign.
As part of the cease-fire agreement, the Lebanese Armed Forces will deploy up to 10,000 soldiers to southern Lebanon within 60 days. During this time, Israeli forces will withdraw gradually, while Hezbollah will relocate its troops north of the Litani River.
US President Joe Biden, while emphasizing that no American troops would be deployed to southern Lebanon, stressed the importance of international support to implement the truce. “Civilians on both sides will soon be able to return to their communities and rebuild their lives,” Biden stated.
The cease-fire aligns with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which seeks to prevent rearmament by armed groups in the region.
The human toll on both sides has been severe. In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes since October 2023 have killed 3,823 people, including 55 on Monday alone, and injured 15,859, according to Lebanese authorities.
In Israel, dozens of soldiers lost their lives in fierce battles with Hezbollah during the ground invasion, marking one of the heaviest tolls for Israeli forces in the conflict.
This truce offers a temporary reprieve in a long-standing struggle marked by Lebanon’s support for Palestine and Israel’s military campaigns. However, the scale of destruction and loss underscores the fragility of peace in the region.