A ceasefire proposal agreed to by Lebanon and Israel stipulates that only “official military and security forces” in Lebanon are authorised to carry arms in the country, according to a copy of the deal.
It specifically names those forces as the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Internal Security Forces, General Security, State Security, Lebanese customs and municipal police.
Officials in the Lebanese government and Iran-backed Hizbullah have long referred to cabinet statements since 2008 enshrining the right to “resistance” as providing official approval for Hezbollah’s arsenal.
The truce proposal refers to both sides’ commitment to fully implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, including provisions that refer to the “disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon”.
Hizbullah has not formally commented on the ceasefire but senior official Hassan Fadlallah told Lebanon’s Al Jadeed TV late on Tuesday that while the group supported the extension of the Lebanese state’s authority, the group would emerge from the war stronger.
“Thousands will join the resistance ... Disarming the resistance was an Israeli proposal that fell through,” said Fadlallah, who is also a member of Lebanon’s parliament.
Long-displaced residents of south Lebanon started returning to their homes amid celebrations hours after the ceasefire took effect.
The ceasefire has brought relief across the tiny Mediterranean nation, coming after days of some of the most intense air strikes and clashes since the war began, though many wondered if the agreement to stop fighting would hold.
Israel has said it will attack if Hizbullah breaks the ceasefire agreement, which was announced on Tuesday.
Displaced people started returning to the coastal city of Tyre on motorcycles and in cars early on Wednesday, defying an Israeli military warning to stay away from previously evacuated areas.
Ahmad Husseini said returning to southern Lebanon was an “indescribable feeling” and praised speaker of parliament Nabih Berri, who led Lebanon’s negotiations with Washington.
“He made us and everyone proud.”
Mr Husseini, who earlier fled a town near the coastal city, spoke to the Associated Press while in his car with family members.
Meanwhile, sporadic celebratory gunfire could be heard at a main roundabout in the city, as people returning honked the horns of cars – some piled with mattresses – and residents cheered.
A couple of men shouted slogans praising slain Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in September.
Hussein Sweidan said he sees the ceasefire as a victory for Hizbullah. “This is a moment of victory, pride and honour for us, the Shia sect, and for all of Lebanon,” he said.
At least 42 people were killed by Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Tuesday, according to local authorities.
Hizbullah also fired rockets into Israel on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens in the country’s north.
The Israel-Hizbullah ceasefire marks the first major step towards ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023, but it does not address the devastating war in Gaza.
Hizbullah began attacking Israel a day after Hamas’ attack.
The fighting in Lebanon escalated into an all-out war in September with large Israeli air strikes across the country and an Israeli ground invasion of the south.
In Gaza, more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the nearly 14-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. – AP