No major hiccups in the truce that came into force early Wednesday, November 27 have so far been reported, despite the rush of tens of thousands of residents displaced by the hostilities to return home, in the south, the southern suburbs of Beirut and the east of the country, so many Hezbollah strongholds shelled for two months by the Israeli air force. In accordance with what it had announced, the Lebanese army, which must ensure the delicate application of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, continues its deployment south of the Litani this Thursday, without however advancing “in areas where the Israeli army is still located. On Wednesday evening, the Shiite movement claimed a “victory” over the Jewish state, affirming that its fighters would remain “totally ready to face […] to attacks by the Israeli enemy.
Information to remember
⇒ The Lebanese army deploys troops and armor in the south
⇒ Tens of thousands of Lebanese return home
⇒ Lebanese Parliament will meet on January 9 to elect a president
The Lebanese army deploys troops and armor in the south
The Lebanese army is deploying troops and armored vehicles in the south of the country this Thursday, on the second day of the ceasefire which ended two months of open war between Israel and pro-Iranian Hezbollah, and which it must ensure the delicate application. It “continues its deployment south of the Litani (the river about thirty kilometers from the border, editor’s note), carries out patrols and installs checkpoints”, indicated a military source to AFP, specifying that the soldiers “do not advance into areas where the Israeli army is still present.”
In the Christian village of Qlaaya, near the border, Lebanese soldiers were greeted as they entered Wednesday evening by jubilant residents, who threw them flowers and rice, waving Lebanese flags. “We only want the Lebanese army in Lebanon,” chanted the crowd, according to an AFP correspondent.
The army indicated on Wednesday that it was beginning to “strengthen its presence” in the south, “in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”, UNIFIL.
Two injured in Israeli shooting
Although no major problem with the truce has so far been reported, two people were injured this Thursday in Israeli fire “in the square” of the southern village of Markaba, said Ani, the Lebanese news agency. information. Ani also claimed that the Israeli army had fired on several border villages, including Khiam where violent clashes had opposed it to Hezbollah before the ceasefire came into force. The Israeli army, which warned the population not to approach the positions it still retains, said it had fired in the direction of “suspects (…) arriving with vehicles” in certain areas and “not respecting not the conditions of the ceasefire”.
Lebanese Parliament will meet on January 9 to elect a president
The Lebanese Parliament announced this Thursday that it had extended by one year the mandate of the commander in chief of the army and must meet on January 9 to elect a President of the Republic in the country deprived of a head of state for more than two years. Army commander-in-chief Joseph Aoun was due to retire in January. “Parliament approved the extension of the mandate of General Joseph Aoun” for one year, indicated the National Information Agency.
Since the end of President Michel Aoun’s mandate on October 31, 2022, differences between powerful Hezbollah and its adversaries have prevented the election of a head of state, with neither camp having a majority in Parliament. But Hezbollah leader Naïm Qassem, who succeeded Hassan Nasrallah, killed in an Israeli strike at the end of September, promised in a speech on November 20 to make “an effective contribution to the election of a president”. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope that the ceasefire agreement would open “a new page” in Lebanon’s history and called for the rapid election of a president.
Tens of thousands of Lebanese return home
Tens of thousands of Lebanese driven out by the war between Hezbollah and Israel have been on their way back since Wednesday, to find their towns and villages devastated after the ceasefire came into force, despite warnings from the Israeli army. Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee reiterated this Thursday morning a warning to residents of Lebanon not to enter the area adjoining the Israeli border, and demarcated by a line running from the towns of Mansouri in the west to Chebaa to the east. “You are not allowed to return to your homes south of this line until further notice,” he said. “Anyone traveling south of this line is exposed to danger,” he added.
Around 900,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon and 60,000 in northern Israel. Since Wednesday before dawn, displaced residents have taken the return road by the thousands, aboard overloaded cars and minibuses, mattresses and suitcases piled up on the roofs.