'All quiet on the northern front?' - Ceasefire starts in Lebanon after 14 months of rockets and airstrikes & 2 months of ground fighting

The ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese terror group Hezbollah took effect at 4:00 AM Wednesday morning, bringing an end to fourteen months of near daily clashes between the two sides and two months of the IDF’s ground campaign there. 

Hezbollah joined the conflict in support of Hamas on October 8, 2023, launching rockets towards Israel’s northern communities and eventually forcing the evacuation of around 70,000 Israeli residents. 

The ceasefire agreement was approved by Israel’s national security cabinet Tuesday night, with 10 in favor and 1 opposed. 

According to the agreement, Israel will have 60 days to move its forces out of southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army deploys around 5,000 troops into the evacuated territories, to prevent the return of Hezbollah. The agreement also guarantees Israel a measure of freedom of action in response to violations.

As of late Tuesday evening, there was still no official confirmation of Hezbollah's agreement to the final terms of the ceasefire. 

Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network that the group would not accept any “violation of sovereignty.” 

“After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials," Qamati told Al Jazeera.

While the IDF had warned Lebanese civilians not to return to their abandoned homes yet, as Israeli soldiers are still deployed in many of the evacuated towns and villages, Lebanese media showed traffic jams as thousands of families began moving south. 

IDF Arabic Spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee posted a warning to X, saying: 

“With the entry into force of the ceasefire agreement and based on its provisions, the IDF remains deployed in its positions inside southern Lebanon. You are prohibited from heading towards the villages that the IDF has ordered to be evacuated or towards IDF forces in the area. For your safety and the safety of your family members, refrain from moving to the area. We will inform you when it is safe to return home.” 

However, besides the thousands of Lebanese trying to return home, there are signs that Hezbollah is already working to violate the ceasefire. Wednesday morning, Israeli national broadcaster Kan 11 reported that “Eight vehicles and a motorcycle carrying Hezbollah personnel arrived at the ruins of Kfar Kila near Metula. The IDF unit that was on the spot drove them away with warning shots.” 

Shortly after, the IDF confirmed the incident in an official statement. 

“Following the directive of the political echelon, the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon took effect at 04:00 today (Wednesday), and the IDF has been operating accordingly,” the statement read. “IDF troops are stationed at their positions in southern Lebanon.” 

“Over the past hour, the IDF identified a vehicle with several suspects in a zone prohibited for movement in Lebanese territory,” the military stated. “IDF troops fired to prevent them from advancing, and the suspects left the area. The IDF will operate against anyone who attempts to breach the ceasefire agreement and will continue to protect the citizens of Israel.”