Government Approves Ceasefire, Boosts Army Presence in South

On Wednesday, Lebanon’s caretaker government officially approved a ceasefire agreement with Israel, brokered by the United States. Although the decision was largely a procedural step, it demonstrated Lebanon’s commitment to fulfilling its role in the agreement, which includes deploying Lebanese troops along the Israeli border and working with United Nations peacekeepers.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed optimism in a statement, stating that the day marks the beginning of hopes for peace and stability.

The ceasefire agreement is based on the implementation plan for U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which was passed in 2006 to end the previous Israel-Hezbollah conflict but was never fully executed. The resolution aimed to establish the Lebanese military as the sole armed presence in southern Lebanon, alongside U.N. peacekeepers, while both Hezbollah and Israeli forces were to withdraw from the area.

According to the ceasefire agreement provided by the Lebanese government, the Lebanese army will gradually increase its presence in the south, working to dismantle unauthorized military infrastructure and weapons production sites. Violations of the ceasefire will be monitored by the U.S., France, and UNIFIL peacekeepers, who will assist in the process.

Mikati emphasized that Lebanon expects Israel to respect the ceasefire terms and withdraw from Lebanese territory. He also expressed hope that the agreement could mark a new chapter for Lebanon and lead to the election of a new president in the near future.