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Although a ceasefire had been announced and was in force in Lebanon, the exact terms of the ceasefire were still unknown, especially after various comments on Friday, but it eventually became clear that Israel would still preserve a ‘right of self defence against imminent threats.’
Following President Donald Trump’s announcement of the ceasefire to begin at midnight Israel time, the IDF urged Lebanese civilians not to return home to the south of the Litani river despite the ceasefire agreement: “With the ceasefire entering into force, the Israeli Defence Forces continue to maintain their positions in southern Lebanon in response to the ongoing terrorist activities of Hezbollah,” they said, adding that for safety of families and until further notice, ‘you are requested not to move south of the Litani River.”
Despite the warnings by the IDF, many civilians began to return home, with roads and bridges, including the Qasmiyeh Bridge, being cleared and repaired to allow people to return.
The Lebanese Army issued a statement regarding citizens returning south following multiple violations by the IDF, stating that it renewed its calls for citizens to refrain from returning home due to the ongoing violations, including Israeli strikes and intermittent shelling affecting multiple areas, urging residents to comply with instructions from deployed military units, particularly at night, and to avoid approaching dangerous zones, adding that the army was continuing to monitor developments and take the necessary measures to ensure civilian safety.
Afterwards, the Lebanese Army began to deploy across multiple entrances of Dahieh to prevent security tensions following the reckless shooting that had resulted in stray bullets landing in the Beirut administration area.
President Trump said on Truth Social that he hoped Hezbollah acted nicely and well during this important period of time, because it will be a great moment in time if they do, with no more killing there must finally be peace.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the ceasefire, expressing a concern that it may already be undermined by the continuation of military operations: “I call for the safety of civilian populations on both sides of the border between Lebanon and Israel – Hezbollah must renounce its weapons – Israel must respect Lebanese sovereignty and stop the war.”
Houthi Ministry of Information in Yemen said the ceasefire that was imposed is an historic victory for Hezbollah and Lebanon over the ‘Zionist enemy,’ stating the achievement was the result of unity among the fronts of resistance, from Palestine, through Iran, Lebanon, and Yemen, adding that the heavy losses inflicted on the enemy ultimately forced it to surrender and accept the ceasefire in Lebanon.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed all efforts that contributed to a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, hoping that the parties concerned maintain the momentum of the ceasefire and resolve disputes through diplomatic means.
Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that they were approaching the ceasefire with caution, urging residents not to return to south Lebanon because the ceasefire didn’t include the ‘withdrawal of Zionists from the Lebanese territory’ at this stage.
Senator Lindsey Graham went on Fox News to say: “I do not trust the Lebanese military to disarm Hezbollah,” stating that he didn’t trust the commander of the Lebanese Army as far as he could throw him, and added that he needed to be replaced before there’s a credible plan to disarm Hezbollah.
As the ceasefire began, multiple gunshots and RPG grenades were launched into the air in celebration, however these caused a lot of damage to nearby property and injuries to civilians, leading citizens of Beirut to call on the Lebanese Army to arrest and stop individuals responsible for ‘reckless gunfire’ in Dahieh. Soon after, the Lebanese Army commander Radolf Haykal released a statement saying that they would pursue all those who fire weapons, arrest them, and refer them to the appropriate judicial authorities.
On Friday morning, the Lebanese Army announced the arrest of 7 Lebanese citizens, along with one Syrian and one Palestinian, had been detained in Beirut and Dahieh for firing into the air after the ceasefire, noting that investigations were ongoing to track the remaining suspects.
Less than 30 minutes into the ceasefire and there was intense Israeli artillery shelling of Khiam, Dibbine in the Khiam direction, Bint Jbeil, as well as airstrikes against Haris and the al-Abassiya intersection just north of the city of Tyre, and even carried out controlled demolitions of houses in Bint Jbeil, all in southern Lebanon, as IDF ground movements were noted in the south of Khiam accompanied by Israeli machine guns fire towards the north of the town, and explosions were also heard in the city of Nabatieh, but this was due to the detonation of an explosive device (remnants of war).
At least 11 bodies were pulled from the debris in Tyre which was the result of the final Israeli airstrike, after search and rescue operations began just after the ceasefire came into effect.
Four hours into the ceasefire, President Trump wrote that it may have been a historic day for Lebanon, good things are happening.
IDF reported that it carried out strikes on more than 380 Hezbollah targets over southern Lebanon in a 24 hour period prior to the ceasefire coming into effect, which targeted launchers, headquarters, and operatives, with the strikes conducted to support ground forces, stating that several rocket launchers used to fire at Israeli territory had been destroyed in rapid response operations.
Hezbollah media stated that they had committed more than 2184 military operations against the IDF and Israeli elements since the war began up to the ceasefire, which varied from troop clashes, to FPV drones, to rocket attacks.
An explosive device detonated in a building that was being searched by a the IDF, causing a number of casualties and serious injuries, reported Naya and Al Jazeera, stating that 6 soldiers and officers were among the injured, as helicopters carried soldiers to both Ziv Safed and Rambam Haifa Hospitals, and Channel 14 confirmed of the six injured by the IED, two were in a serious condition.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the ground manoeuvre in Lebanon along with the strikes against Hezbollah had achieved many accomplishments, but weren’t complete, stating that the IDF would continue to hold all cleared areas in occupied Lebanon and had already planned new attacks for when the ceasefire ends.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that direct negotiations were crucial and national responsibility must be united in the next stage because the eyes of the world were on Lebanon, noting the state’s position is to stabilise the ceasefire, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, and addressing the remaining border disputes that are stuck, adding that the ceasefire was the gateway to continuing negotiations and is the choice that enjoys local and international support.
British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper said that a ceasefire in Lebanon is an opportunity to pave the way for lasting peace, urging everyone to seize it, calling on Israel and Hezbollah to respect the ceasefire, adding that Hezbollah should stop its attacks and disarm, and Israel should end its operations in respect of the sovereignty of Lebanon.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said: “We hope to fully implement the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon and transform it into a permanent agreement, because Israel’s expansionist policies in Lebanon and Syria have turned into a direct threat for national security,” adding that the international community must stand against Israel’s expansionist policies which are causing instability throughout the world.
IDF reported the number of casualties among the army during the battles in southern Lebanon had increased to 653 on Friday, including 41 in a serious condition and 90 in a moderate condition.
Home Front Command announced Friday afternoon it was removing all wartime restrictions nationwide in Israel thanks to the ceasefire with Lebanon holding and the truce with Iran remaining in place, so limits on gatherings were being lifted across the country, with the exception of communities on the Lebanese border, which would likely be lifted after 8pm Saturday.
Israel weren’t happy with a Truth Social by President Trump that stated Israel had to stop all attacks on Lebanon and adhere to a ceasefire, leading Netanyahu to contact Trump to clarify the details, later explaining that while aerial attacks will cease, ground attacks would also cease, although Israel preserved the right to self-defence in regards to imminent threats, according to Channel 12 Israel.
The Lebanon ceasefire will follow the ‘yellow line’ model from Gaza, with some 55 Lebanese villages inside the security zone which civilians aren’t allowed to return to, and the IDF may continue destroying infrastructure during the truce, but the IDF said they supported the ceasefire, believing it could lead to long-term quiet if Israel remains within the yellow line and a US-supervised demilitarisation mechanism takes place.
Lebanese Ministry of Public Health announced that the airstrike targeting a motorcycle and car on the main road between Hounine and Beit Yahoun in the Bint Jbeil district resulted in one person killed and three injured on Friday afternoon.
