After nearly 14 months, the long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has begun. According to the agreement, fighting will be stopped for 60 days. There have been no reports of Israeli troops leaving Lebanon yet.
The ceasefire started on Wednesday at 4 am local time of Beirut, i.e. 8 am Bangladesh time. However, there are concerns about whether a permanent end to the war between Israel's military and Hezbollah forces will be reached.
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday night that the war on the Lebanon-Israel border will end — end. This agreement was made to cease hostilities permanently.
How will the ceasefire agreement be implemented?
A senior US official told the BBC in detail:
A 'phased withdrawal' of Israeli troops from Lebanon is planned over the next 60 days.
The Lebanese military will patrol the area around the Blue Line as the Israeli military advances to the south and Hezbollah to the north.
The US and France will join the existing tripartite system. The system currently includes the Lebanese military, the Israeli military and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). This will assist in the implementation of agreements in this area.
All potential allegations of ceasefire violations will be forwarded to the United States.
There will be no US troops on Lebanese soil. But US and French forces will assist the Lebanese military with training and communications.
The United States, France and other countries will provide technical and financial support to the Lebanese military through a Military Technical Committee, or MTC.
The plan calls on the international community to support economic and infrastructural development in southern Lebanon in an effort to establish conditions that could lead to a 'sustainable ceasefire'.