UN peacekeeping mission welcomes cease-fire between Lebanon, Israel

By Wassim Seifeddine

BEIRUT (AA) – The UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) welcomed a cease-fire agreement between Lebanon and Israel that went into force early Wednesday.

The deal took effect at 4 a.m. local time (0200GMT) to end over 14 months of fighting between the Israeli army and Hezbollah group.

“We will cooperate with all relevant partners to make the cessation of hostilities work,” UNIFIL said in a statement.

“We will continue performing our mandated tasks, and we have already begun adjusting our operations to the new situation.”

The peacekeeping mission urged all actors to “fully implement resolution 1701 in both letter and spirit.”

The resolution, adopted on Aug. 11, 2006, calls for a complete halt to hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel and the establishment of a weapons-free zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River in southern Lebanon, with exceptions for the Lebanese army and UNIFIL.

“UNIFIL and our peacekeepers from 48 countries have remained in place and now stand ready to support Lebanon and Israel in this new phase, and in their implementation of the resolution,” the mission said.

According to the terms of the cease-fire, Israel will withdraw its forces south of the Blue Line in a phased manner while the Lebanese army deploys its forces in southern Lebanon within a period that doesn't exceed 60 days.

The implementation of the agreement will be overseen by the US and France. However, details on enforcement mechanisms remain unclear.

No official comment has been issued by Hezbollah, but the group has effectively adhered to the cease-fire, refraining from any attacks on Israeli targets since it took effect.

Over 3,800 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon and over 1 million displaced since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio