Fighting in Lebanon has decreased following the US-Iran deal, but the situation remains tense
Kyiv • UNN
The US-Iran agreement has reduced the intensity of fighting in Lebanon, but Israel is not withdrawing its troops. Authorities are urging displaced persons not to return home yet.
Fighting in southern Lebanon decreased in intensity on Monday following the announcement of a deal between the US and Iran to end the wider conflict; however, local authorities urged displaced persons not to rush back home, and Israel stated it would not withdraw its troops from the region. This was reported by Reuters, according to UNN.
Details
As the publication notes, Lebanon has suffered the deadliest echo of the conflict between the US and Iran: nearly 3,800 people have been killed, and about 1.2 million have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the Israeli offensive against the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which opened fire on Israel in support of Tehran on March 2.
Pakistan, a key mediator between Tehran and Washington, announced that an agreement was reached early Monday local time for an "immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon."
The statement brought a relative lull to southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese and foreign security sources.
A Hezbollah representative told Reuters that the group had not conducted any operations since the deal was announced, adding that its position on the truce depends on Israel's compliance with it.
According to him, Hezbollah rejects Israel's "freedom of action" in Lebanon, and Iran delayed signing the agreement with the US to monitor Israel's compliance with the ceasefire terms in Lebanon.
Security sources reported that Israel significantly reduced the intensity of its attacks; however, artillery fire was still recorded in some areas of southern Lebanon, and a drone was heard over Beirut and its southern suburbs.
Hezbollah has not yet provided official comments regarding the deal.
Israel confirmed that troops remain
In southern Lebanon, municipal councils urged residents to refrain from returning home. The Israeli Air Force has intensively bombed certain towns over the past three months, and some areas near the border remain under the control of Israeli troops.
One displaced woman, currently in the Hamra district of Beirut, stated she does not plan to return to her village near the city of Tyre anytime soon, calling the situation dangerous and expressing distrust toward Israel.
Israel's Defense Minister stated that the country will not withdraw troops from "security zones" in southern Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria, and will respond to potential Iranian actions in the event of escalation.
He also noted that the "security zone" in southern Lebanon would be cleared of local residents and "terrorist infrastructure," referring to Hezbollah.
The Israeli military has been destroying villages in southern Lebanon for several weeks, claiming they are acting against Hezbollah militants stationed among the civilian population of the predominantly Shia region.
In the city of Nabatieh, residents are returning to check on their homes after the destruction, noting that reconstruction will take a long time.
The President of Lebanon welcomed the de-escalation efforts and expressed gratitude for considering the country's stability in the agreement, without directly mentioning Iran or Israel.
The Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament stated that the agreement lays the foundation for security and stability in the region, including Lebanon, and thanked the US and Iran for including the cessation of Israeli attacks in the arrangements.