Ceasefire Between Israel and Hezbollah; Tens of Thousands of Lebanese Return Home

With the commencement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, facilitated by the United States and France, tens of thousands of Lebanese refugees have begun returning to their homes. The ceasefire went into effect at 4 AM local time on Wednesday, December 7, ending approximately 14 months of war between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, which resulted in the deaths of thousands. However, Israel remains engaged in another conflict in Gaza. Reports indicate that convoys of personal vehicles and vans filled with household belongings have departed from the coastal city of Tyre towards southern Lebanon, allowing part of the 1.4 million people displaced by this war to return home. In its first statement following the ceasefire, Hezbollah made no direct reference to this development and emphasized that it would continue its 'resistance.' The statement noted that Hezbollah forces are fully equipped to counter Israeli attacks and will monitor the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon while keeping their fingers 'on the trigger.' The United States designates Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, while the European Union has blacklisted its military wing but does not consider its political wing as terrorist. Hezbollah has representatives in the Lebanese parliament. The group suffered heavy casualties and losses in this war, including the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in Israeli military attacks. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, this war, which began last October following the Gaza conflict, has resulted in at least 3,768 deaths in Lebanon. The U.S. President has called the ceasefire agreement 'good news' and emphasized that he is now working towards a ceasefire in Gaza. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon, stating that the Islamic Republic reserves the right to respond to last month's Israeli attack on Iran but will also consider 'other developments in the region, such as the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.' Previously, Iranian officials had announced that their response to Israel's past airstrike on Iran was 'certain,' and even Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Speaker of Parliament, stated simultaneously with Abbas Araghchi's remarks in Lisbon that 'Iran's response to the recent Israeli attack is inevitable.' Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, also stated the day before the announcement of the ceasefire in Lebanon that Iran's response to last month's Israeli attack would be 'certain and beyond the imaginations of Israeli leaders.' On November 5, Israel targeted some military sites of the Islamic Republic in response to a massive missile attack from Iran. Some officials and state media claimed 'minor damage' to some sites, but satellite images later reported in Western media showed serious damage to some Iranian military sites. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that 'we have eliminated a large part of Iran's defensive capability, destroyed Iran's missile production capability and a significant part of their nuclear program.' The Israeli army imposed restrictions on nighttime movement in southern Lebanon. On Wednesday, December 7, the Israeli army announced that following the implementation of the ceasefire with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia, restrictions would be placed on individuals' movement in southern Lebanon after dark. According to Avichai Adraee, spokesperson for the Israeli army, in a post on social media platform X, residents are prohibited from traveling south of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers from the border, between 3 PM GMT and 5 AM Thursday. Additionally, returning to villages that the army has ordered to evacuate will be forbidden. Details of the ceasefire: The Israeli security cabinet approved the ceasefire plan on Tuesday, December 6, following a speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he expressed support for the ceasefire plan, which was to be implemented from Wednesday morning. According to this plan, Israeli forces must leave their positions in Lebanon within two months. Hezbollah is also required to end its military presence in southern Lebanon, while an international delegation led by the United States will oversee the ceasefire. Hezbollah is both a militia group and a political party. The United States considers Hezbollah a terrorist organization, while the European Union has blacklisted its military wing but does not consider its political wing as terrorist. Hezbollah's political party also has representatives in the Lebanese parliament. However, just hours after the ceasefire began, the Israeli army announced that it had to fire at several 'suspicious' vehicles entering restricted areas in Lebanese territory to prevent their entry. According to the Israeli army's statement, following the warning shots from Israeli forces, these vehicles changed direction and left the area. Why is the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon a win-win agreement? Biden: It's time for a ceasefire in Gaza. U.S. President Joe Biden described the agreement as 'brave' and good news that would mark a new beginning in Lebanon. He held Hezbollah responsible for Israel's heavy attacks on Lebanon and stated that the ceasefire is designed to be 'permanent.' Mr. Biden added that the Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel agreed to the ceasefire plan proposed by the United States, which would take effect at 4 AM local time on Wednesday. Mr. Biden emphasized that whatever remains of Hezbollah and other 'terrorist groups' will not be allowed to threaten Israel's security. The U.S. considers Hezbollah a terrorist group. The Washington Post: Israel prepares the Lebanon ceasefire plan as a 'gift' to Trump. The U.S. President also announced that he had contacted the Prime Ministers of Israel and Lebanon, and both confirmed that their governments accepted the agreement. He thanked Emmanuel Macron, his French counterpart, for his efforts in mediating this agreement. Mr. Biden then emphasized that his administration is now working to achieve a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and there is also the possibility of normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. He stated, 'The U.S., along with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and other countries, will intensify its efforts to achieve a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.' Biden also called for the release of Israeli hostages taken by the extremist group Hamas. The Biden administration sent Brett McGurk, the U.S. representative for Middle Eastern affairs, to Saudi Arabia to discuss the potential use of the Lebanon ceasefire for the release of hostages. Joe Biden also stated that the U.S. 'is ready to achieve historic agreements with Saudi Arabia, agreements that include a security pact and economic guarantees, along with a roadmap for establishing a Palestinian state and full normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.' Riyadh has previously emphasized that its normalization of relations with Israel is contingent on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. What has 14 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah left behind? From Radio Farda. Netanyahu: Focus on the Iranian threat. Earlier, Mr. Netanyahu stated in his televised speech that he supports this ceasefire plan for three reasons. He explained his reasons: 'Focus on the Iranian threat, which at this stage I will not provide more details about, the need to extend military capabilities and overcome the arms barriers that will soon be resolved, and the third reason, to cut off Hamas's connections with other fronts and isolate Hamas, which is currently alone and isolated.' Netanyahu referred to the November 5 attack on Iranian territory, stating, 'We have eliminated a large part of Iran's defensive capability, destroyed Iran's missile production capability and a significant part of their nuclear program. I am determined to use everything in my power to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Eliminating this threat is the most important mission.' According to this agreement, Israel will withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah militants will also end their presence along the southern bank of the Litani River. The Israeli cabinet's decision will pave the way for the official announcement of the ceasefire by the Presidents of the United States and France. In response to Israel's announcement, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for 'swift' action from the international community to prevent Israeli attacks and 'immediate implementation of the ceasefire.' Mr. Netanyahu in his speech on Tuesday also stated that Israel has transformed the situation over the past year and created new conditions. He clarified that according to this agreement, if Hezbollah violates the details of the ceasefire, his country will act in coordination with the U.S. and with 'full freedom of action.' Benjamin Netanyahu further stated, 'A good agreement is one that is implemented, and we will implement it. With every Hezbollah attack during the ceasefire, we will retaliate; every rocket they fire, every tunnel they dig, will face our immediate and decisive response. We will have this full freedom of action.' The Israeli Prime Minister also claimed that this Iranian proxy group has been 'set back decades.' Benjamin Netanyahu had invited mayors of northern Israeli cities, whose residents have been displaced to other parts of Israel over the past 13 months, to a cabinet meeting to hear their objections to the ceasefire terms. These mayors held a protest rally in front of the Ministry of Defense along with several other people before entering the meeting. Opponents of the ceasefire are calling for the army to 'finish off Hezbollah' and eliminate the remaining military capabilities of the group. They argue that history has shown that Israel cannot rely on the Lebanese army or UN peacekeepers to prevent Hezbollah from establishing itself near the northern border of Israel. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, just before the decision on this agreement, the Israeli army conducted multiple airstrikes on Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. The Lebanese Foreign Minister stated just hours before Israel's agreement to the ceasefire that it is expected that five thousand Lebanese army troops will be deployed in the south as part of the agreement. Abdullah Bouhabib added that the U.S. may assist in the reconstruction of the devastated areas of southern Lebanon. The proposed ceasefire plan was presented by the U.S. about two weeks ago, and according to comments from Lebanese officials and media reports, two issues, 'monitoring committee' and 'Israel's freedom of action to counter Hezbollah after the ceasefire,' were the most significant points of contention. Global reactions: Janine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, welcomed the ceasefire agreement in a statement and thanked the parties for seizing the opportunity to end this devastating chapter. She added, 'Now is the time to take tangible actions to consolidate today's achievements.' Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, also expressed hope that this ceasefire would 'end the violence, destruction, and suffering that the people of both countries have experienced.' Mr. Guterres also urged the parties to take immediate actions to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the previous bloody conflict in 2006 between Hezbollah and Israel. Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, described the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon as 'a source of relief' given the critical situation in the Middle East. He thanked the United States and France for their mediation efforts, stating, 'It is now essential that the ceasefire remains in place to ensure the security of citizens in Lebanon and Israel and allow refugees to return home.' Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, also welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon and called for using this opportunity to reach an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and increased humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Iran also welcomed the halt to what it termed 'Israel's aggression' against Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baqaei stated that Tehran 'welcomes the news of the cessation of Israel's aggression against Lebanon' and emphasizes its 'firm support' for 'the government, people, and resistance of Lebanon.' U.S. Special Representative: The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is 'permanent.' Hours after the ceasefire in Lebanon was implemented, Amos Hochstein, the U.S. Special Representative, in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, detailed the agreement and confirmed the 'permanence' of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The U.S. representative also confirmed that Israeli forces will remain in their positions in southern Lebanon for now. According to the terms of the ceasefire, which began at 4 AM local time - 5:30 AM on Wednesday, December 7, Iran time - Israeli forces and Hezbollah will remain on either side of the Litani River, and Lebanese army forces and UN peacekeepers known as UNIFIL will be present in the buffer zones.