BEIRUT — A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect on Friday, following an announcement earlier by US President Donald Trump.
The truce aims to end more than a month of deadly escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, which has claimed over 2,000 lives. With the ceasefire in effect, the international community has welcomed the move and called on relevant parties to strictly observe the agreement and end hostilities, Xinhua news agency reported.
“We welcome steps that would end hostilities and suffering on both sides of the Blue Line,” said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, while calling on parties concerned to “abide by this ceasefire.”
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit praised the ceasefire as a positive step to alleviate the suffering of the Lebanese people, urging the relevant parties to immediately abide by the truce and launch serious negotiations to secure a sustainable ceasefire.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei also welcomed the truce, noting that it is part of the Pakistan-mediated two-week ceasefire deal between Iran and the United States to stop the war, according to official news agency IRNA.
Egypt described the move as a significant measure to de-escalate regional tensions and halt the “Israeli aggression” on Lebanon.
In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry urged the international community to fulfill its responsibilities to ensure the ceasefire’s sustainability, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and enable displaced people to return to their homes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates voiced hope that the truce will serve as a positive step toward fostering an environment conducive to regional stability, according to the Emirates News Agency.
The ministry also affirmed the importance of continued effective international coordination to prevent further escalation and mitigate the humanitarian and security repercussions across the region.
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ceasefire is a step towards de-escalation, expressing hope that it will support regional and international efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace in the region, according to Qatar News Agency.
UN chief welcomes ceasefire, urges full compliance with international law
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, expressing hope that it would help advance efforts toward lasting peace in the region.
“I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel & Lebanon, and commend the role of the US in facilitating it. I hope this will pave the way for negotiations towards a long-term solution to the conflict & contribute to ongoing efforts toward a lasting & comprehensive peace in the region. I urge everyone to fully respect the ceasefire and to comply with international law at all times,” Guterres posted on X.
Earlier, Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, on Thursday called on parties concerned to respect a newly announced ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
“I think the people of Lebanon have suffered tremendously. … The population in northern Israel also deserves to live in peace. And we hope that everyone will abide by this ceasefire,” said Dujarric.
The spokesman said the United Nations welcomes steps that would end hostilities and suffering on both sides of the Blue Line, a border demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel established by the world body in 2000.
“The United Nations, through our political and peacekeeping missions, remains ready to support these efforts and continues to urge the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 … toward a permanent ceasefire and long-term solution to the conflict,” he said, adding there is no military solution to this conflict.
US President Donald Trump, earlier on Thursday announced a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon aimed at bringing a temporary cooling-off along another front linked to the Iran conflict.
He said that after speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, the two sides agreed to a 10-day ceasefire beginning at 5 p.m. Washington time (2.30 a.m. Friday in India).
The ceasefire is expected to pause hostilities that escalated when Israel opened a new front targeting Iran-affiliated Hezbollah.
Lebanon is not directly engaged in a formal war with Israel, but Hezbollah controls large parts of southern Lebanon and has carried out attacks on Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes.
Unable to rein in Hezbollah, Lebanon has borne the brunt of Israeli retaliation.
The durability of the ceasefire is likely to depend on Hezbollah refraining from further attacks.
While Hezbollah is not formally part of the agreement, media reports indicated that the group may halt attacks if Israel also exercises restraint.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf endorsed the ceasefire, stating in a social media post: “For us, a ceasefire in Lebanon is just as important as a ceasefire in Iran.”
Hezbollah had intensified its attacks on Israel following the escalation of the Iran conflict.
The ceasefire follows a meeting between the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon in Washington on Tuesday, facilitated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. – IANS
