The recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah represents a major diplomatic breakthrough after 13 months of escalating conflict, upheaval, and displacement in Lebanon. The agreement marks the beginning of a 60-day truce that the United States and other stakeholders hope will extend indefinitely.
During this period, troops from both sides will withdraw from southern Lebanon, while the Lebanese army and families displaced in recent months will be able to reintegrate into the region. However, this is a complex and delicate process that will be closely watched in the region and beyond.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hezbollah fighters will withdraw 40 kilometers from the Israeli-Lebanese border, while Israeli ground forces will withdraw from Lebanese territory, in line with the buffer zone set out in a 2006 UN Security Council resolution.
The agreement, which served as the basis for Tuesday’s agreement, stipulates the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, and that the only armed formations present south of the Litani River should be the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers.
Israel’s ground incursion into Lebanon that began in early October marked a significant escalation of a conflict with Hezbollah that had been characterized by daily missile strikes on both sides of the border since Hamas’ attacks in southern Israel last October.
After weeks of deadly fighting in southern Lebanon, Israeli troops reached the Litani River on Tuesday for the first time since the start of their campaign, a symbolic milestone in the conflict just before the ceasefire was agreed.
Those troops will now withdraw toward Israel. However, Israeli leaders have warned that they will take military action if the deal is violated, a threat that could reignite the conflict if carried out.
The ceasefire is expected to finally end a violent chapter in the long-running conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which erupted in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks, when Lebanese militants fired missiles across the border in solidarity with Hamas.
The 13 months that followed have been marked by daily strikes from both sides of the border, followed by near-continuous salvos of missiles and rockets. The attacks reached their peak in the summer, culminating in mid-September with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s promise that his country would shift the balance of power on its northern front.
Israel’s ground incursion followed on October 1, opening a new front of conflict in the Middle East. According to figures from the Lebanese Health Ministry, more than 3,000 people have been killed since Israel escalated its campaign on September 16..
Lebanese residents are hoping that Tuesday’s agreement will bring some respite to a country that has suffered immense damage over the past year.
Israeli airstrikes have focused on Lebanon’s southern border regions, but have also hit targets in central and northern Lebanon. Dozens of buildings have been destroyed in Meiss al-Jabal, as seen in satellite imagery provided by Planet Labs.
In conclusion, this ceasefire agreement represents a glimmer of hope for a region scarred by months of conflict, offering the possibility of a welcome respite from a period of turbulence and violence. Let’s hope that both sides can live up to their commitments and solidify this fragile truce for the sake of all the people of Lebanon and Israel.