New Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire in Effect, But IDF Warns Evacuation Still in Effect

At 9:00 PM EST/4:00 AM Beirut time, the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire officially took effect, potentially ending an ongoing Israeli invasion and repeated airstrikes which have killed thousands and displaced well over a million Lebanese civilians.

The deal was brokered by the US, and the Israeli security cabinet voted earlier today to support it. The deal proscribes a 60-day ceasefire in which Hezbollah is to move its armed assets north of the Litani River, and the Lebanese government is supposed to deploy its army into the southern area of the country as a buffer between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israel, for their part, is intended to withdraw their ground troops from southern Lebanon, and to stop attacking Lebanese territory. If Israel sees “suspicious movements,” US officials say they are to report it to a US-led committee, which would forward the complaint to the Lebanese military. It is only after that point that they would be free to respond if Lebanon doesn’t take action.