Israel & Hezbollah truce quiets one war front but Gaza still awaits calm

A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah held on Wednesday after the two sides struck a deal brokered by the US and France, but Israel warned local residents not to return to the border area yet.

The ceasefire agreement, a rare diplomatic feat in a region wracked by conflict for months, ended the deadliest confrontation between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group in years, but Israel is still fighting its other arch foe Hamas in Gaza.

Lebanese rush home

Cars and vans piled high with mattresses, suitcases and even furniture streamed through the heavily-bombed southern port city of Tyre, heading south where hundreds of thousands of people had been forced to flee their homes by the violence. However, the Israeli army's Arabic spokesman cautioned southern Lebanon residents against moving south of the Litani river from 5pm local to 7am, noting that Israeli forces were still present in the area.

Lebanon's army, tasked with ensuring the ceasefire lasts, said it began deploying additional troops south of the Litani, into a region heavily bombarded by Israel in its battle against Hezbollah. The river runs about 30km north of Israel's border. Israel's attacks have also struck eastern cities and towns and Hezbollah's stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut, and Israeli troops have pushed around 6 km into Lebanon in a series of ground incursions launched in Sept.

60 days of calm

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israeli forces can remain in Lebanon for 60 days and Israeli PM Netanyahu said he had instructed the military not to allow residents back to villages near the border, after four Hezbollah operatives were detained in the area. The Lebanese army urged returning residents not to approach areas where Israeli forces were present for their own safety. Israel has said its military aim in Lebanon had been to ensure the safe return of about 60,000 Israelis who fled from their communities along the northern border when Hezbollah started firing rockets at them in support of Hamas.

Major win for Biden

The ceasefire deal is a major achievement for the US in the waning days of Joe Biden's administration. Biden spoke at the White House shortly after Israel's security cabinet approved the agreement in a 10-1 vote. "This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities," he said. "What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist outfits will not be allowed to threaten the security of Israel again." Israel will gradually withdraw its forces as Lebanon army takes control of territory to ensure that Hezbollah does not rebuild its infrastructure, Biden said.

US: Gaza ceasefire bid next

Biden said his administration was also pushing for an elusive ceasefire in Gaza. National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the US would start its renewed push for a Gaza ceasefire on Wednesday. But without a similar agreement yet, many Gazans said they felt abandoned. "We hope for a truce here because we are tired," said a local.

Hamas, Iran react

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said the group "appreciates" Lebanon's right to reach an agreement which protects its people, and hopes for a deal to end the Gaza war. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran welcomed the agreement and hoped it could lead to a permanent ceasefire.

Will deal be a success?

Israeli chief of the general staff Herzi Halevi said Israel's enforcement of the truce would be very determined. "Hezbollah operatives who approach our troops, the border area...will be struck ... we are getting ready for the possibility that this (ceasefire) approach won't succeed," he said. A Hezbollah lawmaker too said the group would retain the right to defend itself if Israel attacked.