Hezbollah proclaims its 'victory' over Israel who continues to block access to the border villages in South Lebanon | LIVE coverage

Lebanon's outgoing Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, stated that the 60-day period set by the ceasefire "will allow for supporting the army so it can redeploy," in an interview with the Qatari channel Al Jazeera.

He also indicated that the period granted for the ceasefire's implementation would extend until the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli army, clarified that the four individuals detained today in southern Lebanon have not been definitively identified as Hezbollah agents, but are merely suspects.

Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had stated that the detainees were members of Hezbollah, with one of them being a local commander.

Hagari made these remarks in response to questions about why the four individuals had not been shot, despite his earlier statement that any violations would be met with fire. He explained that the Israeli army has been instructed to open fire only when armed individuals are identified or when there is a threat to troops.

The spokesperson for the Israeli army, Daniel Hagari, announced that Israeli fighter jets struck the largest precision missile component manufacturing site of Hezbollah on Monday, located near Janta in the Bekaa Valley.

The underground site, which spans 1.4 kilometers, was producing surface-to-surface missiles and weapon components. Precision munitions intended for attacks against Israel were also stored there, according to the military. Situated near the Syrian border, it served as a hub for arms and agent smuggling between Syria and Lebanon.

In the hours leading up to the strike, several operations targeted the area to locate agents and destroy the site's supporting infrastructure. Among the targets was a central training camp for Hezbollah's al-Radwan force, where agents were training for the Shiite group's infiltration plan into northern Israel.

According to al-Mayadeen, the Israeli army blew up two houses in Khiam (Marjayoun) and fired shells at Kfar Kila.

Earlier in the evening, the National News Agency reported two explosions in Khiam.

Several hundred people demonstrated on Wednesday near the European Parliament to demand an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza and an end to arms exports to Israel, demands echoed by some Members of the European Parliament.

Organized by the France Palestine Solidarity Association and several dozen other organizations, the Strasbourg demonstration was expected to gather around 400 people, according to law enforcement.

Lebanon's outgoing Minister of Interior, Bassam Mawlawi, will hold a meeting of the Central Security Council tomorrow at 4 p.m. to monitor the security situation in the country and oversee the return of displaced people to their villages, according to the National News Agency (NNA).

Hamas's Ministry of Health in Gaza announced the death of nine people in an Israeli strike on Gaza City.

According to the ministry, the strike hit a shelter for displaced persons in a school located in the Daraja neighborhood.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army stated in a communiqué that it had "eliminated terrorist Morad Rajoub in Gaza, one of the two responsible for a bomb attack that injured around ten people in Beersheba," in southern Israel, "in May 2002."

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has called for a "respect for the cease-fire so that civilians can catch their breath" in Lebanon.

The ICRC expressed its readiness to "step up efforts to distribute essential aid" to displaced people, including food, hygiene products, and medical assistance. The Red Cross also stated it is prepared to "assist in repairing water and electricity infrastructure."

Paris announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu enjoys "immunity" in France despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, sparking immediate outrage from the left.

Netanyahu benefits from "immunity" that "must be taken into consideration" despite the ICC warrant, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the ministry cited international law obligations regarding the "immunities of states not party to the ICC," which applies to Israel. It added that "such immunities apply to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other ministers concerned" by an ICC arrest warrant.

The president of the Lebanese University, Bassam Badran, announced in a statement the resumption of online classes.

An Egyptian security delegation will travel to Israel on Thursday in an attempt to reach a cease-fire agreement for Gaza, two Egyptian security sources told Reuters.

The Kremlin spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the ceasefire in effect between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, stating that the most important thing now is its "implementation."

"We have a positive view of the ceasefire," said spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, as quoted by Russian news agencies. "The most important thing now is that the implementation of this agreement fully complies with the commitments made," he added.

The Islamic Jihad announced the death of several of its members in the "treacherous and brutal attack" that targeted the Rachidiyeh (Palestinian) camp in southern Lebanon on Tuesday. The deceased are Ahmad Amer, born in 1967, Ali el-Kay, born in 1965, Rayan al-Kay, born in 1991, and Mahmoud Aaraour, born in 1989.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also confirmed tonight that four suspects apprehended by the Israeli military after entering a restricted area in southern Lebanon were Hezbollah operatives, noting that one of them was a local commander of the Shiite party.

He also called on the Israeli military to block civilian access to villages near the border with Israel as part of the initial phase of the ceasefire, according to a statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

he Lebanese Ministry of Health paid tribute to the country's medical staff, 222 members of whom were killed during the conflict with Israel, mostly paramedics.

It also praised the cooperation of both private and public hospitals "which continued to care for the wounded and displaced, despite some facilities being put out of service or damaged."

The ministry thanked the medical and pharmaceutical unions, as well as the countries and local and international organizations that came to Lebanon's aid, stating that its emergency plan, implemented at the start of the conflict, "proved to be effective."

MEA announced that its flights will return to normal on Dec. 12. In the meantime, it has scheduled 32 additional flights between Nov. 28 and Dec. 3.

The official Syrian news agency Sana announced the temporary reopening of the international road between the Jdeidet Yabous crossing point (Masnaa, on the Lebanese side) and the border with Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to send a message to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, stating that Israel will appeal the decision to issue arrest warrants against him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, an Israeli official told Axios journalist Barak Ravid.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the announcement of the cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon, according to his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.

He also expressed hope that this agreement would put an end to the violence, destruction, and suffering experienced by the people of both countries. Guterres urged both parties to fully respect and swiftly implement all commitments made under the agreement, as well as to take immediate steps toward the full implementation of Resolution 1701.

Additionally, he noted that the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are ready to support the implementation of the agreement.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, stating that it has begun adjusting its operations to the "new situation."

"We will continue to carry out the tasks entrusted to us and have already started adapting our operations to the new situation," UNIFIL said in a statement, adding that it is "ready to support Lebanon and Israel in this new phase." It further emphasized, "We will cooperate with all relevant partners to ensure that the cessation of hostilities is effective."

The Israeli government has instructed the Israeli army to block access to border villages in southern Lebanon for residents wishing to return to their homes, according to Haaretz.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office justified the measure "in accordance with the first phase of the cease-fire plan," the statement said, adding that the Israeli army had arrested "four Hezbollah operatives, including a local commander," who allegedly entered what it described as a "restricted access zone."

"The fighting in Lebanon was conducted with great determination, and the enforcement of the agreement will be even more so," said Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. "In accordance with the rules approved by the Defense Minister, the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet, Hezbollah members approaching our forces, the border zone, or villages within the designated area will be targeted," he added.

Lebanon's outgoing Minister of Education, Abbas Halabi, announced the resumption of in-person classes starting Thursday in private schools and universities, which are also required to provide remote learning until the end of 2024.

The Lebanese Red Cross recovered four bodies today in Kfar Hamame (Hasbaya), according to the National News Agency.

The Lebanese army announced in a post on X that it "has begun reinforcing its deployment south of the Litani River and extending state authority in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)."

This initiative aligns with "the Lebanese government's commitment to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, particularly regarding the strengthening of the army and all security forces in the southern Litani region."

Military units are being redeployed from various regions to the south of the Litani, where they will be stationed at designated locations, the army added.

In another message posted on X, the army also urged citizens returning to border villages in the South, particularly in the districts of Tyre, Bint Jbeil, and Marjayoun, to "follow the instructions of military units and avoid approaching areas where Israeli enemy forces are present, in order to ensure their safety, especially as they may be exposed to enemy fire."

The leader of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapid, addressed the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Herzi Halevi, and the head of Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, during a speech in a Knesset plenary session.

"You have a duty to speak out if an agreement is possible. You owe no loyalty to Netanyahu or the government. Your loyalty is solely to the State of Israel, its citizens, and the soldiers under your command," he emphasized, according to remarks reported by Haaretz.

"Four suspects were arrested and interrogated in southern Lebanon after they approached the troops," the Israeli army said, according to Haaretz.

Russian diplomacy welcomed the cease-fire negotiated at the initiative of Western countries between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"We see positively any agreement that would stop the spiral of violence, that can stop the bloodshed in Lebanon and prevent the expansion of hostilities. But they must be able to actually function," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

According to an Israeli source quoted by Haaretz, the statement by French diplomacy on Wednesday recognizing the immunity of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the International Criminal Court (ICC) was part of the Israeli demands during the negotiations on the cease-fire in Lebanon.

"Such immunities apply to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other relevant ministers and will have to be taken into consideration should the ICC ask us to arrest and surrender them," the statement said at 11:30 a.m. (French time), just hours after the cease-fire agreement in Lebanon came into force.

This position taken by the Quai d'Orsay, indicating that it was necessary to take into account the fact that Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, is at odds with previous reactions from Paris after the publication of arrest warrants on Thursday 21 Nov. by the ICC against the head of the Israeli government and his former Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant.

On Tuesday, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier told the National Assembly that France would "rigorously" respect its obligations under international law and the importance it attaches to the decisions of the Hague Court. This position was reiterated again on Wednesday morning by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in an interview broadcast on Wednesday morning.

Electricity of Lebanon (EDL), the state-owned electricity provider, announced that it "immediately began repairing and cataloging" the damage caused by Israeli strikes on supply lines.

In a new video posted on X, the Arabic-language spokesman for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, issued a series of directives prohibiting Lebanese from returning home following the truce that came into effect this morning at 4 a.m.

He warned residents "not to go to the localities where the Israeli army is located, which can expose them to danger". He announced that between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. tomorrow morning, "it will be forbidden to go south of the Litani." The Israeli army will behave "firmly" against any "violation" of the cease-fire agreement, he said.

President Joe Biden will renew his efforts to reach a cease-fire agreement and release hostages in Gaza after the truce reached between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, his national security adviser said today, AFP reported.

(Credit: Infographic by Jaimee Haddad/L'Orient Today)

Some residents who returned to their homes after the cease-fire found notes left behind by Hezbollah fighters, reported our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

In these notes, the party fighters apologize for having used civilian homes "to eat and sleep," during the fighting with Israel — some of these notes were signed by "men of God."

🔴The Israeli army opened fire on a group of journalists in the village of Khiam, in southern Lebanon's Marjayoun district, according to witnesses on the ground cited by the state-run National News Agency.

An Associated Press (AP) photographer, Mohammad Zaatari, was wounded by two bullets in the leg, as was Sputnik reporter Abdul Qader al-Bai with shrapnel in the foot. They were evacuated to a hospital for treatment.

The head of the Lebanese press editors' union, Joseph Qosseifi, condemned the incident, saying it was "the first violation of the cease-fire agreed on Tuesday."

Qosseifi added that it was a "continuation of the series of crimes perpetrated by Israel against journalists since 2023, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 12 journalists and photographers, in addition to dozens of people who have been disabled or seriously injured."

Damage near the historic Baalbeck temples sustained in Israeli strikes in the area. (Credit: Lucile Wassermann/L'Orient Le-Jour)

📸Early this morning, a few hours after the cease-fire came into effect, our journalists Lucile Wassermann and Emmanuel Haddad arrived in Baalbeck, capturing images of the devastation caused by the Israeli army’s bombardment in its war against Hezbollah. Take a look here. 👈

The Amal movement announced the death of two of its members: Mehdi Barakat, born in 1990 in Jiyeh (Chouf), and Nazem Jounaidi, born in 2005 in Kunine (Bint Jbeil), who were killed while "carrying out their jihadist duty defending Lebanon and the South."

In Sour, a temporary mass grave has been set up as families return to bury their missing relatives, reported our journalist. Over 100 meters, bodies, primarily of Hezbollah fighters, are lined up in cardboard boxes, each labeled with a first name.

Witnesses are in tears. "So many martyrs, civilians and fighters," a woman cries on the phone, recounting the scene to her relative.

In Sour, pain is evident on people's faces, reported our journalist. Nadine, 20, a resident of the Palestinian refugee camp of Bass, is out for the first time since the onset of war. "Our joy is not complete because in Gaza, the violence continues. We don’t even know if the cease-fire will hold," she told our journalist.

Amidst the widespread destruction, another Sour resident, in her forties, says she is still in shock. "I feel dead inside," she confided, tears in her eyes, speaking on condition of anonymity as she views the devastation of the city. "Look at what these [editor's note: she uses profanity to describe Israel] have done," she said, her voice filled with anger.

According to our correspondent, a child from the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Helweh (Saida, southern Lebanon) was killed in an Israeli strike yesterday on a border crossing in northern Lebanon while she was en route to Syria for medical treatment. Her mother was seriously injured in the attack.

In West Bekaa, civilians who returned to their homes after being displaced by Israeli strikes said they found explosives in their homes in Lebbata, according to our correspondent in the region.

In southern Lebanon, the Civil Defense announced that it had recovered the bodies of three members of the Amal movement from underneath the rubble. They were killed by previous Israeli attacks in Khiam, in the Marjayoun district.

Tehran reserves the right to "respond to the air strikes" carried out by the Israeli air force last month on Iran, the foreign minister said at a press conference in Lisbon. However, he added that the Iranian government was "taking into consideration other developments in the region," such as the cease-fire agreement in Lebanon.

He also told reporters that Iran welcomed Tuesday's deal and hoped it could lead to a "permanent cease-fire."

(Credit: Michel Hallak/L'Orient Today)

After being rendered out of service in a series of Israeli strikes just hours before the cease-fire last night, the crossings between Lebanon and Syria in northern Lebanon are now the focus of reconstruction efforts aimed at restoring them as quickly as possible.

The director of the company handling the repairs at the Arida border crossing announced that work would begin within a week. At the other bombed crossings, efforts to complete repairs are expected to be finalized in the coming days, ensuring the resumption of transport and trade across the border as soon as possible.

To find out more, press here.👈

(Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient Le-Jour)

📸 Just hours after the cease-fire took effect our reporter Lyana Alameddine and our photographer Matthieu Karam arrived in southern Lebanon, documenting scenes of both jubilation and destruction. Take a look at the first images here.👈

Hezbollah is planning to hold a "popular" funeral for its former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed two months ago, on September 27, in violent Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, according to the party’s MP Mahmoud Qamati.

Qamati added that the funeral, with a date yet to be announced, will also commemorate Nasrallah's expected successor, Hashem Safieddine, whose death was confirmed on Oct. 23. Safieddine was reportedly targeted in a massive airstrike during the night of October 3-4.

The Israeli army announced that during its war with Hezbollah, it destroyed "70 percent of Hezbollah's drones," as well as about "30 cruise missiles that could have been used to target civilian targets in Israel." According to the army, "the entire chain of command of the air unit" of the party was also killed.

With a 60-day truce now in place between Israel and Hezbollah, Élie Fayad unpacks the distinct features of the agreement and its potential to transform Lebanon’s geopolitical landscape.

Read his full analysis here.👈

🔴 Hezbollah plans to hold a "popular" funeral for its former secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed on September 27 in an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, a party official told AFP.

(Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)

📸 Just hours after the cease-fire took effect at 4 a.m this morning, there was a surge of people returning to Beirut's southern suburbs. Take a look at the first images captured by our photographer Mohammad Yassin here.👈

Farah, 28, on the rubble of her family's home following Israeli strikes in Beirut's southern suburbs. (Credit: Stéphanie Khouri/L'Orient Le-Jour)

Farah Youssef, 28, is back in her parents' home in Beirut's southern suburbs, of which only ruins remain. While rummaging through the debris, she found a family photo and a Quran. "I'm happy to be back in Dahieh, but at the same time I'm sad because there's nothing left of the house," she told our reporter.

"Hezbollah will help us rebuild," she consoled herself, claiming "victory" because "the Israelis have not managed to occupy a square meter of our land."

The General Directorate of Road Traffic announced that it has temporarily reversed the traffic direction on the coastal road parallel to the highway connecting Beirut and Jounieh. The measure aims to ease movement for people returning to the capital amid a significant influx of displaced residents heading home following the cease-fire. Many had fled Israeli shelling in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa.

The reversed traffic flow will remain in effect daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

"We will make another push for a cease-fire in Gaza," U.S. President Joe Biden assured in a message posted on X.

"Over the coming days, the United States will again press Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza with the hostages released and an end to the war without Hamas in power," he said.

Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah told al-Jadeed that "if Israel attacks, Hezbollah has the right to defend itself and protect the Lebanese people."

The Bint Jbeil MP made these remarks in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said yesterday that Israel retains its freedom of military action and would strike Hezbollah if the group violated the newly implemented ceasefire agreement.

Fadlallah added last night that "the agreement conveyed to Lebanon is not the same as the one that was published." Speaking to Reuters, he emphasized that "Hezbollah will remain active after the end of the war with Israel," including assisting displaced Lebanese in returning to their villages and aiding in the reconstruction of areas devastated by Israeli strikes.

Gaza's Health Ministry issued a new toll of 44,282 people killed, including 33 in the past 24 hours, in the Palestinian enclave since the start of the Israeli offensive. The ministry added that 104,880 people were also injured in Israeli attacks since Oct. 7, 2023. 

Iran welcomed the "cessation of Israeli aggression" in Lebanon, after the entry into force of a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Iran "welcomes the news of a halt to the Zionist regime's aggression against Lebanon," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai said in a statement, referring to Israel, whose existence the Iranian government does not recognize. Tehran "strongly supports the Lebanese government, nation and resistance," the spokesman added, calling on the international community "to put pressure" on Israel to end the war in Gaza.

Qatar welcomed the cease-fire in Lebanon, saying it hoped for a "similar agreement" in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, where it had played the role of mediator.

"Qatar welcomes the cease-fire reached in Lebanon and hopes for a similar agreement to end the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli assaults in the occupied West Bank," Qatar's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Israeli army said it had struck "dozens" of Hezbollah targets in Beirut and the south of the country before the ceasefire came into effect in Lebanon.

"Prior to the start of the ceasefire, the Israeli air force carried out, based on intelligence, strikes against dozens of Hezbollah command centers, launchers, weapons depots and terrorist infrastructure sites in Beirut, Sour and Nabatieh," the army said in a statement.

Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a right-wing member of Netanyahu's government, expressed his opposition to the cease-fire agreement on X, stating that it did not ensure the return of Israelis to their homes in the country's north and that the Lebanese Army did not have the ability to overcome Hezbollah.

"This is not a cease-fire. It's a return to the concept of silence for silence ... This agreement does not meet the goal of the war — to return the residents of the north safely home," he wrote.

"In order to leave Lebanon, we must have our own security belt. We have already seen it, that we must not trust anyone but ourselves. Otherwise, the missiles will be launched at Manara, Avivim, Kiryat Shmona, the entire north and the entire State of Israel, and finally we will have to return to Lebanon again," Ben-Gvir continued. 

"This is a historical mistake!" he concluded

Najib Mikati still hoped for "a new page" in Lebanon's history and called for the election of a president.

Speaking shortly after Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on Israel to "respect" the cease-fire agreement and withdraw from southern Lebanon.

He reiterated that the Lebanese Army will strengthen its deployment in southern Lebanon, in accordance with the cease-fire agreement reached to end the war between Hezbollah and Israel.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell welcomed the announcement of a cease-fire in Lebanon, hoping that it "will bring an end to the war which has killed more than 240 children, injured around 1,400, and upended the lives of countless others."

"Urgent work must now begin to ensure this peace is sustained. Children and families must be able to return to their communities safely, especially those displaced in shelters and host communities. The protection of children and their families must remain at the heart of all efforts to stabilize the situation and support recovery," added Catherine Russell.

UNICEF added that it stands ready to support early recovery efforts, providing resources and expertise to rebuild water systems, primary health care, schools and other services children rely on.

“Humanitarian organizations must be granted safe, timely, and unimpeded access to deliver lifesaving aid and services to all affected areas, particularly in the south of Lebanon where needs are acute ... The destruction of homes, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure has interrupted the education of over two million children and left many children without access to health care and basic services. Restoring these vital lifelines is critical to ensure that children can recover and thrive"

“We call on all parties to uphold their commitments, respect international law and work with the international community to sustain peace and ensure a brighter future for children," Russell concluded.

Reacting to the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters the Palestinian group “appreciates” Hezbollah’s right to strike a deal protecting its people.

Abu Zuhri also said Hamas is ready to reach a cease-fire with Israel to stop the fighting in Gaza.

A new poll by Israel’s Channel 13 News revealed mixed opinions among Israelis regarding the recent war with Hezbollah. According to the survey, 61 percent of Israelis believe that Israel has not defeated Hezbollah, while only 26 percent feel Israel won. The remaining respondents were uncertain about the outcome.

The poll also found that 44 percent of Israelis support the recently brokered cease-fire agreement with Hezbollah, while 38 percent oppose it. Approximately 19 percent of those surveyed were unsure of their stance on the agreement.

When asked about Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, a significant 66 percent of the public stated that the war should end, alongside the return of the 101 Israeli captives still held in Gaza.

The poll also highlighted widespread public support for accountability, with 67 percent of respondents backing the establishment of a state commission of inquiry to investigate the events surrounding the Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

Berri also paid tribute to the former leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, killed exactly two months ago by Israel in Beirut's southern suburbs of Beirut. He stated that Nasrallah "entrusted him with the mandate of political resistance."

Expressing his gratitude to all those "who contributed to the establishment of the cease-fire," he called on "all faiths and political forces to preserve a stronger and united Lebanon."

Berri also affirmed that "this moment is a test for all Lebanese, regardless of faith, to save their country and protect constitutional institutions."

"We are turning a historical page, which has been one of the most dangerous for Lebanon, and has threatened its people and its history," added Berri, stating that the war has "revealed the true face of Lebanon: that of solidarity and national unity".

The Israeli army fired on residents of Khiam, in the Marjayoun district of southern Lebanon, who were trying to come and assess the damage in the northeast of the city, according to our correspondent.

Khiam was at the heart of weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, and just this morning the army blew up several houses there.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli army said it had fired on vehicles carrying "suspicious individuals" in southern Lebanon, without specifying where or whom.

In Beirut's southern suburbs, Hezbollah flags and the victory signs are being displaced despite the destruction. (Credit: Stéphanie Khoury/L'Orient Le-Jour)

In Beirut's southern suburbs, the contrast between the festive atmosphere of returning displaced residents and the extensive damage is striking. Amid loud militant music, Hezbollah flags, gunfire, ruins, charred cars, roads filled with rubble and gaping holes, the scene is chaotic, reported our correspondent.

"I returned to the region two months later," said a resident. "My house is destroyed, but I love my land and Lebanon. We will rebuild everything. The joy is there, despite the tears."

In the traffic jams of Basta, a few neighborhoods away, the Lebanese Army is distributing warnings to residents about suspicious objects.

In Chiyah, along the old road to Saida that begins at Tayouneh, traffic is heavy. Many cars display Hezbollah flags and portraits of the party’s assassinated leader, Hassan Nasrallah. In the back of one car, a woman films the destruction.

Some buildings have been completely destroyed, while most are partially damaged. The scene resembles the aftermath of an apocalypse, reported our journalist on the scene. Shops are open, and life is slowly returning to normal. Among the rubble, groups of young people have gathered.

The Lebanese Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri, called in a televised speech on the displaced Lebanese to "return to your villages" and to "their fig and olive trees." "Return proud to your villages, because they defeated the enemy."

He also emphasized the importance of electing a president for the republic, while highlighting the need for unity and cohesion in the upcoming period.

Berri was in charge of indirect negotiations for a cease-fire on the Lebanese side.

Iraq welcomed a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, calling on the international community to act urgently to end Israel's war in Gaza.

A foreign ministry statement called for "multiplying international efforts to avoid any new escalation" along the Israel-Lebanon border, while also urging "serious, urgent steps to stop the continued massacres and violations against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip".

According to our correspondent in southern Lebanon, the Civil Defense began recovering the remains of victims still under the rubble of border villages.

At the Cabinet meeting at the Serail, caretaker Defense Minister Maurice Slim affirmed that “remarks regarding the Israeli enemy’s freedom of movement in Lebanon contradict the content of the published 13-point agreement, which does not address this issue. We will not accept it. The agreement only affirms the right of both parties to self-defense.” Believing it was “time for the war to stop,” Slim highlighted the “central role” the Lebanese Army will play in implementing the cease-fire agreement.

When asked about the risk of confrontation between the army and Hezbollah, Slim declined to comment, stating, “We are working every day to strengthen our army, ensuring it is better equipped to safeguard the security and peace of Lebanon and its people.”

In Baalbeck, rubble covers the road, in front of the citadel, following repeated Israeli attacks on the area. (Credit: Emmanuel Haddad/L'Oreint Le-Jour)

Mohammed's windowless shop, at the entrance to Baalbeck. (Credit: Lucile Wassermann/L'Oreint Le-Jour)

In his shop at the entrance to Baalbeck, Mohammad plays revolutionary songs on repeat. The windows were shattered during the explosion of the Manshiyeh building. "They wanted to erase us, but we are patient and resilient. It was our right to resist this destruction," he told our correspondent.

On the road to Baalbeck, traffic jams form from Zahle. (Credit: Lucile Wassermann/L'Oreint Le-Jour)

On the road from Baalbeck to Chtaura, returns appeared to be relatively slow around 9:30 a.m. A few Civil Defense personnel were seen by the roadside, reported our correspondent in the region. They say they are mobilized in the Bekaa, alongside the Lebanese Red Cross, to ensure the safety of civilians returning to their homes and to clear the roads. However, they are not allowed to touch homes or other buildings that have been bombed without the army's approval.

In Zahle, the roads are now congested. The first Hezbollah flags quickly appear, hanging from cars along the road to Baalbeck. Residents along the route are seen distributing the flags. Returning displaced people signal victory from their cars. The atmosphere is festive, with songs echoing, and fireworks exploding in the distance.

Along the road, posters caution motorists about the risks posed by unexploded missiles.

The Lebanese Cabinet began its meeting at the Grand Serail in Beirut, chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, to discuss the text of the cease-fire agreement proposed by the United States and France and approved yesterday by the Israeli Cabinet. The cease-fire went into effect at 4 a.m. last night.

Present at the meeting are several ministers from the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), who had boycotted Cabinet meetings since the presidential vacancy began two years ago. This includes caretaker Defense Minister Maurice Slim and Social Affairs Minister Hector Hajjar. Also in attendance is the commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Army, General Joseph Aoun.

The Israeli army announced that it had spotted in the morning "several vehicles inside Lebanese territory carrying suspicious individuals in a forbidden area," announced the Arabic-language spokesman of the army, Avichay Adraee.

"The forces opened fire to prevent their advance, forcing them to withdraw," he added in a statement on X.

"The air force remains on high alert to intervene throughout Lebanese territory, while the air defense system is on high alert. So far, no changes have been made to the instructions of the Israeli Civil Defense," Adraee said. "The Israeli army will respond firmly against any attempt to violate the cease-fire agreement and will not allow any harm to the security of the citizens of the State of Israel."

Turkey says it is ready to provide the necessary "support" to Lebanon after the cease-fire comes into force.

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry "welcomes the positive outcome of the negotiations for a cease-fire in Lebanon and hopes that it will be permanent," adding that Ankara offers its "support" for Lebanon without elaborating. 

"It is imperative for the international community to exert pressure on Israel to fully comply with the cease-fire and to provide reparations for the damages it has caused in Lebanon," the ministry added in a statement. 

It also said a cease-fire must also be declared in Gaza as soon as possible for lasting regional peace and stability.

Minister Ali Hamiyeh announced on X that work to restore and reopen the road at the Masnaa border crossing on the Lebanese-Syrian border in the Bekaa region had begun this morning.

Many official and informal crossings between Lebanon and Syria have been damaged by Israeli shelling since Sept. 23, many of which were targeted in yesterday's barrage of Israeli attacks before the cease-fire. The Masnaa crossing was targeted at the beginning of October.

Yesterday evening, while several Israeli strikes were reported in northern Lebanon, the Arida border area was bombed for the first time, "completely destroying the bridge linking the two countries and causing significant damage to the buildings of the General Security on both sides of the border," according to information from our correspondent in the north. He reported that the bridge on the Lebanese side completely collapsed, leaving several people wounded and transferred to hospital by the Lebanese Red Cross. Many of the crossings were targeted on both, the Lebanese and Syrian sides. 

Dozens of vehicles were also destroyed, while others remain immobilized this morning. Several houses in the village of Arida, near the crossing point, were also destroyed, along with fishing boats in the port.

On the highway road to Rmeileh, in the direction of southern Lebanon, displaced people display the Hezbollah flag. (Credit: Mathieu Karam/L'Orient Le-Jour)

Driving toward Kfar Tibnit in the Nabatieh district, a family is packed into a car overflowing with luggage.

Our reported spoke to a woman who has just returned from Daraya in the Chouf, where she was displaced for two and a half months. "We won thanks to the men of the resistance. But the price of this war was too high. There are so many martyrs and so much destruction," she said. Another man expressed his belief in the cease-fire, "the role of UNIFIL and that of the Lebanese Army in managing the area."

On a bridge, people wave at motorists, making the victory sign. The drivers honk in response. One car carries a Lebanese flag, while at the entrance to Saida, children hand out Hezbollah flags.

A Lebanese Army sign warning people catches attention: "The danger is planted in our lands," the message reads, accompanied by a photo of a rocket that did not explode.

Anthony Samrani, co-editor-in-chief of L'Orient-Le Jour.

With the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah officially taking effect overnight from Nov. 26 to 27, many questions arise. Will this agreement hold? Will the truce period expose its grey areas? Who will foot the bill for reconstruction? Can we realistically expect Hezbollah to disarm?

Ask your own questions before 11 AM, and our co-editor-in-chief Anthony Samrani will answer them live. More information here.👈

A family traveling to the town of Kharayeb in southern Lebanon's Saida district shared their thoughts on the truce. “If the Israelis hadn’t been hurt, they wouldn’t have accepted the agreement,” the mother told L'Orient Today correspondent Lyana Alameddine, speaking from a car with her father, husband, and five children.

Despite leaving their home behind, they believe it is still intact. “Our house is open to all those who have lost theirs,” the mother promised.

The Lebanese General Security has denounced what it described as a “barbaric Israeli attack” on three border crossings in northern Lebanon overnight. The strikes left 12 people injured, some critically, according to the agency, which oversees these crossings on the Lebanese side.

The Syrian authorities reported six killed from the Israeli strikes. General Security said its buildings were damaged, roads were cut off, and bridges connecting Lebanon to Syria were destroyed, disrupting traffic at the crossings.

Elias Bayssari, the acting director general of General Security, has contacted caretaker Public Works Minister Ali Hamiyeh to coordinate efforts to reopen roads and repair damaged infrastructure.

In their car at the northern entrance of Jadra, a family is heading to Bint Jbeil without knowing if their house is still standing. But "it doesn’t matter." They say they are "happy" and "victorious."

"The men of the resistance prevented the Israelis from advancing more than 3 kilometers," the father tells our correspondent, Lyana Alameddine. "We will not lay down our weapons. And they (the Israeli displaced) will not return to the North," he promises.

Bint Jbeil is barely 4 kilometers from the Lebanese-Israeli border, in an area where the Israeli army is likely still deployed.

Not far from there, the occupants of a car are waving the flag of the Shiite Amal movement, led by the Speaker of Parliament.

At the northern entrance of Jadra (Chouf district), traffic jams are already forming. It is 8 a.m. In a car with tinted windows, a mother and her four children, all dressed in black, are heading to Kfar Roummane (Nabatiyeh district). The husband died "as a martyr" during the conflict. The funeral will take place in the village, but the body is still in Beirut, waiting to be buried in Khiam (Marjeyoun district), his hometown.

"We cannot return to Khiam, still occupied by the Israeli army. But we will return with our heads held high," the mother tells our correspondent, Lyana Alameddine. A few meters away, pro-Hezbollah partisan songs can be heard from a van. Cars are driving in the opposite direction.

"Congratulations to the Lebanese for the cessation of hostilities, which paves the way for a permanent cease-fire under the umbrella of sovereignty," said Gebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), in a message posted on the platform X.

"The return of our people to their homes is necessary, and the priority now is to elect a consensus president, form a government to begin reforms and reconstruction, develop a state-led defense strategy, and neutralize Lebanon from conflicts and axes to avoid another war," he added.

On the road to the airport heading towards southern Lebanon, a thick cloud of dust fills the air, reports our on-the-ground correspondent, Lyana Alameddine. The scent of explosives fills the cars. As they drive south, motorists greet each other and honk their horns while making the victory sign. Some are waving Hezbollah flags.

On the roads, traffic jams formed in the early hours of the day. It is 7:30 a.m., and displaced people from southern Lebanon are already returning home, with mattresses tied to the roofs of cars.

On the Salim Salam highway, the Nazal family, packed into an old car, is heading to Srifa (Sour district). They had sought refuge in Dhour Shoueir in the Metn area.

"We are victorious," says Amin, a father of four, to our correspondent, Lyana Alameddine. Bundled up in winter clothes, they all have smiles on their faces. "We're going home," they say. Yet, part of southern Lebanon remains inaccessible to some of the displaced.

"They will return too. We’ve paid an exorbitant price. We’ve lost many people, but we are emerging victorious," says the farmer.

For its part, Damascus announced that six people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on border crossings between Lebanon and Syria the night before the ceasefire took effect.

"The Israeli enemy launched an aerial attack from the direction of Lebanese territory, targeting border crossings between Syria and Lebanon," the Syrian Ministry of Defense stated.

"The attack killed six people, including two soldiers and four civilians, and injured 12 others, including children, women, and workers from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent," Damascus added.

A senior Hamas official praised the ceasefire in Lebanon on Wednesday and stated that the Palestinian movement was also "ready" for a truce with the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip.

"The announcement of the ceasefire in Lebanon is a victory and a major success for the resistance," said this member of Hamas' political bureau to AFP.

"Hamas is ready for a ceasefire agreement and a serious deal to exchange prisoners," he added.

On Wednesday morning, the Lebanese army announced it was "taking measures" to redeploy in southern Lebanon. "Due to the implementation of the cease-fire, the army is taking the necessary steps to complete its deployment in the south," the armed forces said in a statement.

"The army command urges citizens to wait before returning to the villages and towns along the front where Israeli enemy forces have entered, until their withdrawal," they added.

During the night, dozens of air raids targeted the South, according to our correspondent, including nine strikes in Naqoura, Sarafand, and the major city of Sour.

At 5 a.m., the Israeli army—scheduled to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon over the next 60 days—trapped and detonated houses in Khiam, located in the Marjayoun district.

Shortly after 4 a.m., the Arabic-speaking spokesperson for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, stated on X that "the Israeli army remains deployed in its positions in southern Lebanon," prohibiting residents from returning to the area.

"You are forbidden from going to evacuated villages or approaching Israeli forces in the region," he warned. "For your safety and that of your loved ones, please refrain from entering the area," he added. "We will inform you when it is safe to return."

Despite the overnight strikes and the intensity of yesterday's bombardments, hundreds of displaced people prepared to return to their villages in the South and the Bekaa, as well as to the southern suburbs of Beirut, after at least two months of forced displacement, particularly following the large-scale operation launched by the Israeli army on September 23.

According to reports from our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah, returns were observed in Nabatieh, a major inland city in the South, while dozens of cars were waiting to depart in Saida.

The Lebanese anxiously counted down the minutes to 4 a.m., as powerful new bombardments struck the southern suburbs of Beirut and more central areas of the capital, including Khandaq ea-Ghamiq. Earlier in the day, neighborhoods such as Hamra, Zokak al-Blat, Barbour, and Mar Elias had already been targeted. Just before the ceasefire took effect, at least two strikes hit Jnah in the southern suburbs, an area bombarded dozens of times yesterday.

In the north, Israeli fighter jets targeted the official border posts of Arida, Dabboussiyeh, and Jisr al-Qmar, in raids that severed Lebanon’s connection to neighboring Syria and caused multiple casualties. The South and the Bekaa region were also heavily bombarded.

So far, the Ministry of Health has not provided an official casualty report for yesterday’s events.

It was U.S. President Joe Biden who announced that the truce would begin at 4 a.m. In a joint statement, Mr. Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron declared that their countries would ensure the cease-fire agreement in Lebanon is "fully implemented and enforced."

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, welcomed this as a "crucial step" toward regional stability and announced the strengthening of the Lebanese army’s presence in the south, along the border with Israel.

Hello,

We are starting this new live coverage of a day unlike any other, marking not only the 418th day of war in the Gaza Strip but, more importantly, the first day of a cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel. This comes after 14 months of cross-border strikes and more than two months of a deadly Israeli campaign on Lebanon.