In Qlayaa, residents jubilant at the arrival of the Lebanese army

Horns, jets of rice, Lebanese flags brandished, obvious joy… Videos widely shared on social networks show the arrival of Lebanese army tanks, during the night from Wednesday to Thursday, to the cheers and festive gestures of the residents who remained in the Maronite village of Qlayaa (caza de Marjeyoun), a locality of 8,000 inhabitants, located four kilometers as the crow flies from the border.

Spared by the Israeli ground offensive in South Lebanon, which officially began on September 30, the inhabitants of this village located at an altitude of 800 meters nevertheless suffered directly from the war, due to the shortage of gasoline, medicines and of the forced closure of the nearest hospital. Shortly after the start of the ground offensive, the village parish priest, Pierre al-Raï, stressed that the inhabitants “did everything to ensure that there was no military installation or action” which explained that the majority of the inhabitants remained serenely in the village.

On his over the entire extent of 10,452 (km2)”, in allusion to the surface area of Lebanon, and undoubtedly to the motto of his party to express the unity of the country during the Lebanese civil war.

This event took place on the evening of the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which began at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, and was scheduled to last 60 days. During this transitional period, the Lebanese army must gradually deploy south of the Litani, becoming the only armed force in this area, while the Israeli army must withdraw, as part of the implementation of UN Resolution 1701.