Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire in force, civilians move back to southern Lebanon.

BEIRUT (Reuters) – A ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah came into effect on Wednesday after both sides accepted a deal brokered by the United States and France, which saw embassies in the region Kari has a rare victory. Traumatized Through two devastating wars spanning more than a year.

Lebanon’s army, tasked with helping to enforce the ceasefire, said in a statement on Wednesday that it was preparing to deploy to the south of the country.

The army also said residents of border villages should be delayed from returning to their homes until the Israeli army, which has waged war against Hezbollah on several occasions and is about 6km into Lebanese territory. (4 miles) pushed, no return.

The agreement, which promises to end the conflict across the Israel-Lebanese border that has so far killed thousands in the Gaza war since last year, is the waning days of the US administration of President Joe Biden. It is a great success.

“Power must give way to dialogue and negotiations. This has now been achieved in Lebanon, and it must happen as soon as possible in the Gaza Strip,” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barot. France Info Radio

At 0200 GMT, gunfire could be heard in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, after the ceasefire was implemented. It was not immediately clear whether the shooting was celebratory, as the gunfire was also used to warn residents who had heeded an evacuation warning issued by the Israeli military. Didn’t do

Later, cars and vans piled high with mattresses, suitcases and even furniture passed through the southern port city of Tyre, which had been bombarded further south in the last days before the ceasefire.

Some cars waved Lebanese flags, others played garlands, and a woman could be seen flashing a victory sign with her fingers.

Many of the villages people were returning to have been destroyed. But homeless families renting alternative accommodation are financially stressed and have hope. Some of them told Reuters to avoid paying another month’s rent.

Some of the displaced said they are still desperate to return.

Hussam Arout, a father of four who was displaced from Beirut’s southern suburbs and originally from the southern border village of Mes Al-Jabal, said he was itching to go back to his ancestral home.

“The Israelis have not retreated completely, they are still on the edge. So we decided to wait until the army. announced That we can do go inside Then we will immediately turn on the cars and go to the village,” he said.

‘permanent shutdown’

Biden spoke at the White House on Tuesday shortly after Israel’s security cabinet approved the deal in a 10-1 vote. He said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Makati and that the fighting would end at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT).

“This is designed to be a permanent end to hostilities. What remains of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed to threaten Israel’s security again,” Biden said.

Biden said Israel would gradually withdraw its forces over 60 days as Lebanon’s military took control of the area near its border with Israel to ensure Hezbollah could reassert itself there after a costly war. Don’t rebuild infrastructure.

He said his administration is also pushing for a mysterious cease-fire in Gaza and that it is possible Saudi Arabia and Israel could normalize relations.

Hezbollah has not officially commented on the cease-fire, but senior official Hassan Fazlullah told Lebanon’s Al-Jadeed TV that the group is strengthened by the war while it supports expanding the powers of the Lebanese state. will emerge.

“Thousands of people will join the resistance… disarming the resistance was an Israeli proposal that failed,” said Fazlullah, who is also a member of Lebanon’s parliament.

The front page of the pro-Hezbollah Al-Akhbar newspaper featured a picture of two men holding a Hezbollah flag in front of a partially fallen one. Building with the caption, “Continued… and victorious.”

Iran, which backs Hezbollah, the Palestinian group Hamas and the Houthi rebels who attack Israel from Yemen, said it welcomed the ceasefire.

Israel has dealt a heavy blow to both Hezbollah and Hamas, killing several of their top leaders.

Lebanon’s Makati issued a statement welcoming the deal. Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib said that after the withdrawal of the Israeli army, the Lebanese army will deploy at least 5,000 soldiers in southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu said he was ready to implement the ceasefire but would respond strongly to any violations by Hezbollah.

He said the cease-fire would allow Israel to focus on the threat from Iran, allowing the military. To relax and replenish equipment And isolate Hamas, the Islamic militant group that launched a war in the region last year by attacking Israel from Gaza.

‘Put it back decades’

Netanyahu added that Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, was much weaker than at the beginning of the conflict.

“We have set it back decades, eliminated its top leaders, destroyed most of its rockets and missiles, neutralized thousands of fighters, and eradicated terrorism near our borders,” he said. has destroyed many years of infrastructure.

A senior US official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, said the US and France would join the UNIFIL peacekeeping force in a mechanism that would work with the Lebanese army to prevent possible ceasefire violations. will work for US combat forces will not be deployed, the official said.

In the hours after the ceasefire, hostilities flared as Israel stepped up its campaign of airstrikes in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, with health officials reporting at least 18 deaths.

The Israeli military said it targeted “components of Hezbollah’s financial management and systems,” including a money exchange office. Hezbollah also fired rockets at Israel in the last hours.