War in the Middle East: The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect last night in Lebanon

The ceasefire came into effect on Wednesday between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah after US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday the conclusion of an agreement to end the fighting in Lebanon. Shots were heard at Beyrouththe Lebanese capital, after the ceasefire came into force. This could be celebratory gunfire, but gunshots have been used in the past to warn residents who have not received evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army.

Many cars were heading towards southern Lebanon after the ceasefire took effect, according to Reuters journalists. Joe Biden spoke on Tuesday at the White House immediately after the almost unanimous approval of this agreement by the Israeli security cabinet, saying he had spoken with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

This ceasefire, intended to be “permanent” in the words of Joe Bidencame into force at 4:00 a.m. (02:00 GMT) on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. “What remains of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed to threaten Israel’s security again”he said. Israel will gradually withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon within sixty days during which regular Lebanese forces will deploy in this Hezbollah stronghold, to ensure that the pro-Iranian Shiite group does not re-establish there, explained the American president.

The agreement, assured Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a joint statement, “will create the conditions necessary for the lasting restoration of calm and allow the safe return of residents on both sides of the Blue Line to their homes”the border between the two countries drawn by the United Nations.

Hezbollah has not officially commented on the ceasefire, but a political representative of the Lebanese Shiite movement, Hassan Fadlallah, told Lebanese channel Al-Jadeed TV that the group would emerge stronger from the war. “Thousands (of people) will join the resistance. Disarming the resistance was an Israeli proposal that did not come to fruition,” said Hassan Fadlallah, who is also a member of the Lebanese Parliament. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran welcomed the ceasefire.

In a video message broadcast by the Elysée, Emmanuel Macron greeted Tuesday evening “the culmination of efforts undertaken over many months” by Paris and Washington to the Israeli and Lebanese authorities. Najib Mikati issued a statement welcoming the agreement. Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said the Lebanese army would be ready to deploy at least 5,000 troops in the south of the country after the Israeli withdrawal.

Benjamin Netanyahu said he was ready to implement a ceasefire, warning however that Israel would respond forcefully to any violation. The agreement will allow Israel to focus on “the Iranian threat”to rest its army and increase the isolation of Hamas, justified the head of the Israeli government, some nationalist ministers of whom are opposed to the agreement. After almost a year of exchanges of rockets and missiles on both sides of the Israeli-Lebanese border, Israel launched a vast offensive against Hezbollah last September, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, 2023, and rocket fire from Hezbollah in support of Palestinian Hamas, at least 3,823 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, according to the latest report provided Tuesday by the Lebanese ministry. of Health. Around a hundred Israeli civilians and soldiers were killed by Hezbollah attacks, according to Israeli authorities.