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What We Know About the Cease-Fire in Lebanon
The truce began Wednesday, bringing a fragile peace to Israel and Lebanon. Israeli troops are to withdraw in phases from southern Lebanon, and Lebanese military convoys headed south to protect the peace.
A cease-fire agreement to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon went into effect on Wednesday morning, bringing a fragile peace to an area that has seen more than a year of fighting.
Many questions remain about implementing the deal over the next 60 days, a critical period during which Israel and Hezbollah are expected to withdraw from southern Lebanon — and hold their fire.
Here’s what we know about how things are going so far.
Troop movements
The Lebanese Army, which is not a party to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, is expected to enforce the peace under the terms of the deal. It started to send military convoys into southern Lebanon on Wednesday, posting images of the troop movements on social media and saying the army had “begun to strengthen its deployment” and “extend state authority” in the area.
The Israeli military is still in Lebanon and is expected to withdraw in phases over the next two months. That withdrawal will be coordinated with the Lebanese Army, according to the cease-fire deal. The two militaries, along with an international oversight committee chaired by the United States and including France, are expected to come up with “a specific and detailed plan.”
Hezbollah is expected to withdraw from southern Lebanon, but when is not clear. Israel has killed or injured many members of the armed group’s leadership and rank-and-file and has destroyed its weapons stockpiles and factories.
Heading home in Lebanon
More than a million people in Lebanon were displaced by the fighting, mostly in the last few months as the conflict intensified and Israel invaded. As the cease-fire took effect on Wednesday, thousands immediately began returning to areas ruined by Israeli strikes, packing highways with cars loaded with people and belongings. But the movements of returning residents were still constricted. The Lebanese Army called on civilians returning to towns and villages along the border to avoid areas where the Israeli military was still in position.
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