After ceasefire, thousands return to south Lebanon

India welcomes truce

• India has welcomed the ceasefire deal saying it has always stood for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve any issue. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement saying, “We have always called for de-escalation, restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy”
• “We hope these developments will lead to peace and stability in the wider region,” the statement read.

A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah was held on Wednesday after the two sides struck a deal brokered by the US and France, a rare feat of diplomacy in West Asia wracked by two wars and several proxy conflicts for over a year.

The agreement ended the deadliest confrontation between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group in years. However, Israel is still fighting its other arch foe, the Palestinian militant group Hamas, in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson cautioned southern Lebanon residents against moving south of the Litani river from 5 pm to 7 am local time, 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.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israeli forces can remain in Lebanon for 60 days and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 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.

Cars and vans piled high with mattresses, suitcases and even furniture streamed through the heavily-bombed southern port city of Tyre, heading south.

Israel said it identified Hezbollah operatives returning to areas near the border and had opened fire to prevent them from coming closer. There were no immediate signs that the incident would undermine the ceasefire.

The agreement, which promises to end a conflict across the Israeli-Lebanese border that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war last year, is a major achievement for the US in the waning days of President Joe Biden’s administration.