A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon commenced on Wednesday, following more than a year of fighting that resulted in thousands of fatalities. The truce, effective at 4:00 AM local time (0200 GMT), aims to end a conflict that has displaced tens of thousands in Israel and hundreds of thousands in Lebanon.
The violence began after Hezbollah conducted cross-border strikes in support of Hamas, coinciding with Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. According to Lebanese sources, at least 3,823 people in Lebanon have died since the fighting escalated, particularly in the past few weeks due to intensified Israeli military campaigns against Hezbollah. On the Israeli side, there have been 82 soldier and 47 civilian fatalities attributed to hostilities with Hezbollah.
In the lead-up to the ceasefire, the violence peaked, with Israeli strikes targeting key areas in Lebanon’s capital on Tuesday. Despite the announcement of the truce, Hezbollah claimed attacks on northern Israel shortly thereafter. Notably, Hezbollah did not participate in direct negotiations for the ceasefire, relying on Lebanese parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri to mediate.
US President Joe Biden revealed the ceasefire arrangement on Tuesday, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed gratitude for Biden’s role in facilitating the truce. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel retains the freedom to act against Hezbollah if the group poses any threat.
With the conflict having severely weakened Hezbollah—especially following the reported death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah in a September airstrike—Netanyahu indicated the truce would allow Israel to redirect focus toward Hamas in Gaza and address threats from Iran. Iran, a principal backer of both Hezbollah and Hamas, has conducted missile and drone attacks on Israel since the onset of the Gaza war.
Within Lebanon, the war has caused nearly 900,000 people to evacuate their homes. Biden stated that the ceasefire agreement aims for a “permanent cessation of hostilities” between Israel and Hezbollah. Under the truce, Lebanese forces would assume control of their border area, with a commitment that remaining Hezbollah factions would not threaten Israel’s security.
Historically, Hezbollah is notable for its refusal to disarm after Lebanon’s civil war (1975-1990) and still maintains a powerful military presence, with an arsenal reportedly exceeding that of the Lebanese national army. While a ceasefire is expected to alleviate some immediate tensions, Lebanon is anticipated to navigate a prolonged recovery from ongoing crises.
The United States and France are slated to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, with Netanyahu reaffirming Israel’s right to respond to threats even post-truce. Recent airstrikes have targeted areas in central Beirut and Hezbollah strongholds, including a strike that killed seven and injured 37 in the Nweiri neighborhood. Witness accounts describe scenes of devastation, underscoring the impact of ongoing violence even as a ceasefire takes effect.
