In a significant development, a long-anticipated ceasefire aimed at ending the 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah took effect in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The truce, which began at 4 a.m. local time in Lebanon, followed the heaviest day of Israeli airstrikes on Beirut since the conflict escalated last September.
Displaced Families Cautiously Return
As news of the ceasefire spread, displaced Lebanese families who had fled the fighting began making their way back to their homes and communities. Many returned to scenes of devastation, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble by months of relentless bombardment.
“We don’t know what we’ll find when we get back, but we had to come. This is our home, even if it’s in ruins now,” said one resident of Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold that bore the brunt of Israeli airstrikes.
The United Nations estimates that over 1 million Lebanese, nearly a quarter of the country’s population, were displaced by the fighting. Many sought refuge in other parts of Lebanon or fled abroad, while others took shelter in schools, mosques, and public buildings.
Tense Calm Prevails
In the hours following the ceasefire, a tense calm prevailed across southern Lebanon and northern Israel, the main battlegrounds of the conflict. Both sides appeared to be adhering to the terms of the truce, with no reports of major violations.
However, isolated celebratory gunfire could be heard in parts of Beirut, as Hezbollah supporters expressed their relief at the end of hostilities. The militant group, which is backed by Iran and Syria, has claimed victory in the conflict, despite the heavy toll inflicted on Lebanon.
“This is a historic moment for the resistance,” declared a Hezbollah official in a televised address. “We have faced the might of the Zionist entity and emerged undefeated.”
Israel Hails ‘Strategic Achievement’
For its part, Israel has portrayed the ceasefire as a strategic achievement, arguing that it has significantly weakened Hezbollah’s military capabilities and restored deterrence along its northern border.
“We have dealt a severe blow to the terrorist infrastructure in Lebanon,” said an Israeli military spokesperson. “Hezbollah will think twice before attacking Israel again.”
The conflict, which erupted in September 2023, has been the most intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah since their last major war in 2006. It has left over 5,000 people dead, most of them Lebanese civilians, and caused widespread destruction across Lebanon.
International Pressure for Ceasefire
The ceasefire was brokered by the United States and France, which have been leading international diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. It came after weeks of intense negotiations and mounting pressure from the international community.
“This is a critical step towards ending the violence and suffering in Lebanon and Israel,” said US President Joe Biden in a statement. “We will continue to work with all parties to ensure that the ceasefire holds and to support Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability.”
The truce is seen as a first step towards a more comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon, which have been technically at war since Israel’s founding in 1948. However, deep divisions and mistrust persist on both sides, and many obstacles remain on the path to a lasting settlement.
Long Road to Recovery
For the people of Lebanon, the ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope after months of fear, hardship, and loss. But the country faces a long and difficult road to recovery, with its economy in shambles, its infrastructure shattered, and its political system in disarray.
“We have survived the war, but now we must survive the peace,” said one shopkeeper in downtown Beirut, surveying the damage to his store. “Lebanon needs help to rebuild, to heal, and to move forward. We cannot do it alone.”
As the sun rose over a war-weary region on Wednesday, the people of Lebanon and Israel awoke to a new reality, one shaped by the promise of peace, but also haunted by the scars of conflict. The ceasefire may have silenced the guns, but the journey towards lasting stability and reconciliation has only just begun.
