Israel launches ‘final punishment’ airstrike before Hezbollah ceasefire begins

The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants has kicked off, leaving the region on tenterhooks about its longevity.
The truce dictates an initial two-month pause in hostilities, requiring Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops are to withdraw to their side of the border.
An international panel led by the United States will oversee compliance. Israel has issued a stern warning that it will strike back if Hezbollah breaches the ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire, which took effect early Wednesday, calls for a two-month cessation of fighting. It orders Hezbollah to terminate its armed presence in a significant area of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would retreat to their side of the border.
However, the execution remains a major question mark. The Israeli military also issued several evacuation alerts, signaling plans to ramp up strikes against Hezbollah until the ceasefire takes hold.
For the first time in the conflict, Israeli ground forces pushed forward to parts of Lebanon’s Litani River, a key strategic area central to the proposed agreement. In a televised address, Netanyahu confirmed he would present the ceasefire deal to cabinet ministers on Tuesday, aiming to wrap up nearly 14 months of combat.
Netanyahu announced that the vote was anticipated later on Tuesday, but the exact timing of the ceasefire’s implementation remains murky, with the specific terms of the agreement not yet revealed.
While the cease-fire terms address their conflict in Lebanon, it’s crucial to highlight that this deal doesn’t impact Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza, which continues unabated. Lebanese officials have reportedly stated that Hezbollah also supports the deal, as per The Associated Press.
If all parties approve, this agreement could be a significant stride towards ending the Israel-Hezbollah war that has escalated tensions across the region. In addition to the thousands of casualties among both soldiers and civilians, the prolonged conflict has ignited fears of an even wider conflict between Israel and Hezbollah’s supporter, Iran.
The public has been given few details about the deal. One stipulation calls for an initial two-month cessation of hostilities and would necessitate Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a large area of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border.