Tel Aviv-Hezbollah ceasefire comes into effect after Israeli forces kill thousands in Lebanon

CAIRO – 27 November 2024: Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon initiated a ceasefire on Wednesday, ending nearly 14 months of intense fighting that brought the region closer to an all-out war.

Israeli forces have killed over 3,700 people during the war, according to Lebanese authorities, and forced around 1.2 million Lebanese people to flee their homes, with Israeli airstrikes levelling building in Beirut and the southern suburbs.

No immediate violations of the ceasefire have been reported thus far.

The ceasefire agreement, which took effect at 4 AM on Wednesday, stipulates an initial two-month cessation of hostilities, with key provisions requiring Hezbollah to withdraw its armed presence from southern Lebanon and Israeli troops to retreat to their designated side of the border.

The agreement also mandates the deployment of thousands of additional Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers in the southern region, while an international panel led by the United States will oversee compliance efforts.

Hezbollah is obligated under the deal to relocate its forces north of the Litani River, situated around 30 kilometers north of the border.

Israel's security Cabinet has approved the ceasefire brokered by the United States and France, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasizing that a cessation of hostilities with Hezbollah would serve to isolate Hamas in Gaza.

Netanyahu warned that any breach of the ceasefire by Hezbollah would be met with swift and robust military response.

He affirmed, “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” adding that “for every violation, we will attack with might."

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire as a pivotal step towards achieving stability and facilitating the safe return of displaced individuals.

The clashes between Hezbollah and Israel started on October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians, following an attack by Hamas on southern Israel.

Fighting between the two sides continued since then with Israeli forces escalating bombardment in mid-September and launching a ground offensive in Lebanon later.

During the offensive, Israel managed to assassinate senior Hezbollah leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah, the group's secretary general, and his presumed successor, Hashim Safieddine.

The killing of Iranian and Hezbollah commanders over the past months has triggered retaliatory drone attacks by Iran on Israel in April and October. Israel responded to both attacks with airstrikes.

World leaders have warned of the danger of further Israeli-Iranain escalation driving the Middle East into an all-out war, harming all countries in the region.

Hezbollah attacks have forced around 50,000 Israelis to evacuate from northern regions, according to AP, with their rockets reaching as far south as Tel Aviv.

Israeli authorities have confirmed the deaths of dozens of soldiers in the ground attack in Lebanon.