A 10-day ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel came into effect on Friday, leading to a mass migration of displaced persons southward, heading to their homes, despite warnings from the Lebanese army about "a number of violations" in the area, UNN reports with reference to AFP.
Details
Shortly after the truce came into effect at midnight local time, the army urged residents of the south – many of whom had to leave their homes after Israel's large-scale evacuation warnings – not to return, citing "several acts of Israeli aggression."
Nevertheless, AFP images showed crowded cars heading south along Lebanon's coastal highway before dawn, and at dawn crossing what remained of a bridge bombed by Israel during the war.
The ceasefire is a key step in Washington's efforts to reach an agreement to end the war with Iran, with Tehran insisting that a truce in Lebanon must be part of any deal.
Mediator Islamabad is leading international efforts to resume face-to-face talks between Tehran and Washington, with Trump making it clear that he could fly to Pakistan to sign any agreement, adding that they are "very close" to concluding it.
Trump allowed a visit to Islamabad in case of an agreement with Iran17.04.26, 00:33
Fighting in Lebanon erupted on March 2, when Tehran-backed Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel just days after the start of the war in the Middle East, to avenge the death of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei during the first waves of US-Israeli strikes.
Hezbollah shelled Israel with rockets for the first time since November 202402.03.26, 05:40
On Sunday night, shots were fired in the southern suburbs of Beirut, dominated by Hezbollah, in connection with the entry into force of the ceasefire regime – it seemed to be a spontaneous celebration, although this could not be confirmed, the publication writes.
According to AFP journalists, traffic jams accumulated for kilometers from the only bridge connecting the coastal region south of the Litani River in Lebanon with the rest of the country, with people waiting for hours to return home.
After the ceasefire came into effect, the Israeli military said it had struck more than 380 "Hezbollah terrorist organization targets in southern Lebanon" and was on "high alert" for renewed strikes.
IDF struck over 380 Hezbollah targets in 24 hours during operation in Lebanon17.04.26, 02:17
Trump said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun before the truce was concluded, adding that they agreed to a truce "to achieve peace between their countries."
He later said he expected Netanyahu and Aoun to visit the White House "within the next four to five days."
A personal meeting at the highest level between the Lebanese and Israeli leadership would be a turning point for the region. But it is not yet known whether it will take place, the publication notes.
Netanyahu said that the ceasefire with Lebanon provides an opportunity for a "historic peace agreement" with Beirut, but insisted that the disarmament of the militant group Hezbollah remains a precondition.
Trump said that Hezbollah is included in the ceasefire agreement, but, according to the US State Department, the truce obliges Lebanon itself to disband the militant group supported by Iran.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed Trump's ceasefire announcement, saying that the truce is "a key demand of Lebanon, which we have been seeking since the first day of the war" between Hezbollah and Israel.
However, the Lebanese president rejected Trump's request for a direct phone call with Netanyahu, an official source told AFP.
Trump called the ceasefire agreement "very exciting" in response to a question from an AFP reporter as he left the White House. "They will have a ceasefire today, and it will also affect Hezbollah," he said.
A Hezbollah parliamentarian told AFP that they would "cautiously observe" the truce if Israel stopped its attacks.
Ibrahim al-Moussawi thanked Iran for lobbying on behalf of Lebanon, adding that "the ceasefire would not have happened if Iran had not considered the ceasefire equivalent to closing the Strait of Hormuz."
Netanyahu said that Israel agreed to the truce but would maintain a 10-kilometer "security zone" along the border in southern Lebanon.