 "People gather as cars drive past rubble from damaged buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect at 0200 GMT on Wednesday after US President Joe Biden said both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France, in Lebanon. Reuters")
At 2 am GMT (7.30 am IST) on November 27, fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon came to an end after a US-brokered ceasefire was accepted by both sides. With this, peace and quiet finally returned to the war-ravaged country, which has resulted in more than 3,800 people being killed.
If it holds, the ceasefire would bring an end to nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated in mid-September into an all-out war.
Shortly after US President Joe Biden made the announcement of the ceasefire from the White House, thousands of people made their way to southern Lebanon, resulting in cars jamming the highway linking the capital, Beirut, to the south.
According to reports, just hours after the announcement of the ceasefire was made, traffic was gridlocked at the northern entrance of the port city of Sidon. Displaced people also started returning on motorcycles and in cars.
The people began moving back to their villages along the borders and the frontline despite the Lebanese military asking them to avoid such areas where Israeli troops are still present until they withdraw.
Images and videos on social media showed Lebanese defying these calls and returning to their villages; on the highway linking Beirut to southern Lebanon, thousands of cars could be seen with belonging and mattresses tied on top.
The Lebanese locals seemed relieved after the announcement was made despite some concerns about whether the truce would hold and lead to the permanent end of fighting between the Israeli military and the Lebanese armed group.
The announcement of the ceasefire also led to many in Lebanon celebrating the news. As Hussein Sweidan, a resident returning to Tyre in southern Lebanon, said to AP: “This is a moment of victory, pride and honor for us, the Shia sect, and for all of Lebanon.”
Many celebrated the news with sporadic gunfire, while others honked their cars and cheered on the roads.
The ceasefire comes after nearly 14 months of intense fighting . Some estimate that the numerous strikes and actions by Israel have caused damage in Lebanon worth an estimated $8.5 billion. It is also said that the fighting has led to an estimated 1.2 million people being displaced in Lebanon and over 46,500 in Israel.
With inputs from agencies