Government approves ceasefire, to bolster army presence in south
Lebanon’s caretaker government on Wednesday approved a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Israel.
The move was largely a formality but also signaled the government’s commitment to its part in the deal, including deploying Lebanese soldiers along the border with Israel and cooperating with United Nations peacekeepers.
“Today is a new day, where we hope it carries with it peace and stability,” caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said in a statement following the morning meeting.
The agreement is an implementation plan for U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, which was passed in 2006 to end the last Israel-Hezbollah war but never was fully carried out. Its goal was for the Lebanese military to be the exclusive armed presence in southern Lebanon alongside U.N. peacekeepers, and for Hezbollah and Israeli forces to withdraw from the area.
According to a copy of the ceasefire agreement provided by the Lebanese government, the Lebanese military would gradually deploy in the south and dismantle unauthorized military infrastructure and weapons production facilities.
The United States and France, in addition to UNIFIL peacekeepers, will monitor violations and support the process.
Mikati said the army will reinforce its presence in the south, urging Israel to withdraw and respect the terms of the ceasefire reached with Hezbollah.
"I demand that the Israeli enemy abide by the ceasefire deal and withdraw" from Lebanese territory, Mikati said, adding that "I hope this will be a new page for Lebanon, I hope the coming days will lead to the election of a president".
The army said it began reinforcing its presence in south Lebanon Wednesday, after Mikati's statement.
"The army has begun reinforcing its presence in the South Litani sector and extending the state's authority in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)," the military said in a statement.
Source: Agence France Presse
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