Hezbollah Agrees to 60-Day Ceasefire in Israel-Hamas Conflict

Israel Launches Pre-Emptive Strikes Against Hezbollah in Lebanon

In mid-September, a series of pager explosions rocked Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of at least a dozen...

Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones into Israeli territory in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, escalating the conflict between the two sides.

Israel and Hezbollah have reached a significant milestone with a 60-day ceasefire agreement, marking a crucial step towards lasting peace in the region. This deal, facilitated by the United States and France, aims to stabilize the region and pave the way for a permanent cessation of hostilities, as emphasized by US President Joe Biden.

The agreement outlines a phased withdrawal process, where Hezbollah fighters will retreat 40 kilometers from Israel's border, and Israeli ground forces will withdraw from Lebanese territory. This coordinated effort is expected to prevent a security vacuum and ensure a smooth transition.

The international community is playing a vital role in ensuring the success of this agreement. The US and France will assist in monitoring the implementation of the deal, while the Lebanese army will deploy south of the Litani River to reassert state sovereignty and prevent Hezbollah militants from re-establishing their positions.

President Biden has expressed optimism about the deal, stating that it will lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities. Furthermore, the US has committed to leading another push for a ceasefire in Gaza, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to achieving regional peace.

Hours before the agreement, Israeli forces bombarded Beirut's southern border 20 times in two minutes, with Hezbollah saying it launched drones towards Israel.

On Tuesday, Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed 25 people.

Despite the ceasefire deal, Israel has warned residents displaced by fighting not to return to their homes in Lebanon just yet.

Israel and Hezbollah intensified air strike exchanges in August. Israeli troops began a land invasion of Lebanon almost two months ago.

On August 25, the Israeli military launched pre-emptive strikes into Lebanon with 100 fighter jets. The strikes targeted thousands of rocket launcher barrels across dozens of launch sites.

Hezbollah retaliated by launching hundreds of rockets and drones into Israeli territory. The group claimed to have fired over 320 rockets, marking the “first phase” of its attack. Hezbollah said the strikes were in response to Israel's assassination of a senior commander in Beirut.

In mid-September, a series of pager explosions rocked Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of at least a dozen people and injuring approximately 2,750 others. Israel was blamed for the explosions, which targeted Hezbollah's communication networks.

Hezbollah relies on pagers as a low-tech means of communication, aiming to evade tracking by Israel. This tactic allows the militant group to maintain a level of operational secrecy, despite Israel's sophisticated surveillance capabilities.