Gunfire heard in Beirut as Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire takes effect

Gunfire erupted in Beirut shortly after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect, signaling the fragile nature of the truce. The ceasefire, brokered amid rising tensions, was intended to halt weeks of cross-border violence that has endangered regional stability and caused civilian casualties.

Fragile Ceasefire Agreement
The ceasefire agreement comes after intense diplomatic efforts to de-escalate hostilities. However, sporadic gunfire and reports of unrest in Lebanon‘s capital suggest the challenges of maintaining peace. Observers fear that isolated incidents could spiral into broader conflict, undermining the fragile agreement.

Gunfire heard in Beirut

Hezbollah has not formally commented on the ceasefire but senior official Hassan Fadlallah told Lebanon’s Al Jadeed TV that while it supported the extension of the Lebanese state’s authority, the group would emerge from the war stronger.

“Thousands will join the resistance … Disarming the resistance was an Israeli proposal that fell through,” said Fadlallah, who is also a member of Lebanon’s parliament.

Iran, which backs Hezbollah, the Palestinian group Hamas as well as the Houthi rebels that have attacked Israel from Yemen, has not publicly commented on the ceasefire.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on social media platform X the deal was “the culmination of efforts undertaken for many months with the Israeli and Lebanese authorities, in close collaboration with the United States.”

Lebanon’s Mikati issued a statement welcoming the deal. Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said the Lebanese army would have at least 5 000 troops deployed in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops withdrew.

Netanyahu said he was ready to implement a ceasefire but would respond forcefully to any violation by Hezbollah.

He said the ceasefire would allow Israel to focus on the threat from Iran, give the army an opportunity to rest and replenish supplies and isolate Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that triggered war in the region when it attacked Israel from Gaza last year.

‘SET IT BACK DECADES’

“In full coordination with the United States, we retain complete military freedom of action. Should Hezbollah violate the agreement or attempt to rearm, we will strike decisively,” Netanyahu said.

Hezbollah, which is allied to Hamas, was considerably weaker than it had been at the start of the conflict, he added.

“We have set it back decades, eliminated … its top leaders, destroyed most of its rockets and missiles, neutralized thousands of fighters, and obliterated years of terror infrastructure near our border,” he said.

A senior US official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, said the US and France would join a mechanism with the UNIFIL peacekeeping force that would work with Lebanon’s army to deter potential violations of the ceasefire. US combat forces would not be deployed, the official said.

Jon Finer, deputy national security adviser in the Biden administration, told CNN that Washington would be watching for any violations of the deal.

“Implementation of this agreement will be key and we will be very vigilant to any attempts to disrupt what the two parties have committed to as part of this process today,” he said.

Biden, who leaves office in January, said his administration would continue to push for an elusive ceasefire and hostage-release deal in Gaza, as well as for a deal to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

In the hours leading up to the ceasefire, hostilities raged as Israel ramped up its campaign of airstrikes in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, with health authorities reporting at least 18 killed.

The Israeli military said it struck “components of Hezbollah’s financial management and systems” including a money-exchange office.

Hezbollah also kept up rocket fire into Israel.

Israel’s air force intercepted three launches from Lebanese territory, the military said, in an extensive missile barrage on Tuesday night that led to warning alarms in about 115 settlements.

Alia Ibrahim, a mother of twin girls from the southern village of Qaaqaiyat al-Snawbar, who had fled nearly three months ago to Beirut, said she hoped Israeli officials, who have expressed contradictory views on a ceasefire, would be faithful to the deal.

“Our village – they destroyed half of it. In these few seconds before they announced the ceasefire, they destroyed half our village,” she said. “God willing, we can go back to our homes and our land.”

A poll conducted by Israel’s Channel 12 TV found that 37% of Israelis were in favour of the ceasefire, compared with 32% against.

Opponents to the deal in Israel include opposition leaders and heads of towns near Israel’s border with Lebanon, who want a depopulated buffer zone on Lebanon’s side of the frontier.

Both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah have insisted that a return of displaced civilians to southern Lebanon is a key tenet of the truce.

Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a right-wing member of Netanyahu’s government, said on X the agreement did not ensure the return of Israelis to their homes in the country’s north and that the Lebanese army did not have the ability to overcome Hezbollah.

“In order to leave Lebanon, we must have our own security belt,” Ben-Gvir said.

Impact on Civilians
The clashes have devastated communities on both sides of the border, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. In Beirut, residents remain anxious as intermittent clashes disrupt daily life. Humanitarian organizations have called for adherence to the ceasefire to allow relief efforts and provide respite for affected populations.

International Appeals
Global leaders have urged both parties to honor the truce and avoid actions that could reignite hostilities. The United Nations has emphasized the importance of dialogue in resolving underlying disputes, with the international community pledging support for peace initiatives.

A Long Road Ahead
While the ceasefire offers a momentary pause, the underlying tensions between Israel and Hezbollah remain unresolved. Efforts to address political, territorial, and security concerns will be critical in preventing further violence and achieving lasting peace in the region.

As the situation unfolds, the international community remains watchful, hoping the ceasefire holds amid ongoing challenges.

Source: eNCA

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