Even though a ceasefire was agreed on between Israel and Hezbollah which aimed at stopping more than a year of fighting in Lebanon. Israeli aircraft attacked a Hezbollah compound in southern Lebanon, accusing it of storing mid-range rockets. Israeli tank shells hit neighborhoods near the Blue Line and injured civilians. The Lebanese army accused Israel of breaching the truce, and Hezbollah parliamentarian Hassan Fadlallah claimed that the Israeli military was shelling civilians who were going back to border villages. The Israeli troops remain in the border towns, with surveillance drones patrolling southern Lebanon, even after the declaration of the ceasefire.
Terms of the Ceasefire and Fragility of the Agreement
The agreement, mediated by the United States and France, for a 60-day ceasefire demands that Israeli forces withdraw from southern Lebanon. Military facilities south of the Litani River have to be dismantled under the deal. Violations, like Israel's tank fire and airstrikes, raise concerns over the durability of the agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a blunt message and ordered the military to gear up for "intensive war" in case the current ceasefire collapses. The Hezbollah leadership has already announced that despite the loss of personnel, its army is on guard and would respond to all perceived attacks by Israel. It has been causing chaos to civilians for some time. According to the Lebanese health ministry, Israel strikes in Lebanon killed over 3,960 and injured over 16,500. There has been the killing of thousands by nonstop airstrikes in Gaza by Israel following the October 7 Hamas raid on southern Israel.
What Awaits West Asia?
While the ceasefire in Lebanon may bring short-term relief, its fragility only points to the fact that lasting peace is yet to be achieved. Simultaneously, violence in Gaza threatens to destabilize the region further and complicates efforts for broader negotiations. U.S. President Joe Biden has appealed to all concerned to seize this moment and work their way toward peace.
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