Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, has stated that the group will cooperate with the Lebanese army to enforce the ceasefire agreement with Israel, which has largely held for three days. Qassem announced that there would be a high level of coordination between Hezbollah and the army to implement the truce and strengthen Lebanon’s defensive capabilities. Meanwhile, the Lebanese army has begun sending troops to the south and is preparing to deploy further as part of the agreement.
The Israeli military, however, has issued restrictions on civilians returning to villages near the border and has launched air strikes on southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah weapons. Both the Lebanese army and Hezbollah have accused Israel of ceasefire violations, including an air strike and gunfire towards civilians burying a body.
Qassem declared a “divine victory” for Hezbollah in its conflict with Israel, stating that the group will continue to support Palestinians in Gaza. American and French officials are monitoring the ceasefire’s implementation, as the Israeli army continues to warn Lebanese to evacuate border areas.
Despite Israeli claims of targeting thousands of Hezbollah sites and killing members, the Lebanese health authorities report high casualties with nearly 4,000 people killed and over 16,000 wounded since the conflict began in October 2023. The situation remains tense as all parties navigate the fragile ceasefire and withdrawal agreements.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
