Lebanon’s army said today it had taken “necessary measures” to redeploy in the south of the country after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah came into force.

“Following the entry into force of the ceasefire, the army is taking the necessary measures to complete its deployment in southern” Lebanon, the Lebanese armed forces said in a statement.

According to Lebanon’s foreign minister, Abdullah Bou Habib, his country’s army will deploy somewhere 5,000 members in the border area as Israeli armed forces and Hezbollah fighters withdraw.

At the same time, the Lebanese army asked the residents of the border areas not to return to their homes, before the withdrawal of the Israeli troops from the area.

“The army command asks the citizens to wait before returning to the villages and towns located on the front that the Israeli enemy forces have infiltrated awaiting their withdrawal,” the statement added.

Late last night, after nearly a year of fighting, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire. But Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel would not hesitate to attack if the Iranian-backed Shiite group broke any part of the deal.

Silence from Hezbollah and Iran

The truce halts a war that has forced tens of thousands of people in Israel and hundreds of thousands in Lebanon to flee their homes.

According to Lebanese authorities, at least 3,823 people have died in Lebanon since October 2023, the vast majority since the end of September. The war has forced another 900,000 Lebanese citizens from their homes, according to UN estimates.

On the Israeli side, 82 soldiers and 47 civilians lost their lives in the attacks and clashes with Hezbollah, according to the official count.

Hezbollah was not directly involved in the negotiations for the ceasefire, calling on parliament speaker Nabi Berri to negotiate on its behalf. He has so far made no public comment on the deal.

However, stem of the Shiite movement told the Lebanese television station Al Jadid that his faction welcomes the expansion of the Lebanese state’s powerwhile he assured that – contrary to what American and Israeli officials and analysts estimate – Hezbollah will emerge from the war strengthened.

“Thousands will join the resistance,” predicted Hassan Fadlallah, a member of the Lebanese parliament, stressing that Israel’s demand that the movement disarm would not be met.

Benjamin Netanyahu believes the ceasefire agreement will allow the Israeli army to “intensify” pressure on Hamas, against which the devastating war in the Gaza Strip continues for the 418th day.

“Once Hezbollah is out of the game, Hamas will be on its own (in the Gaza Strip). Our pressure will intensify, and this will contribute to the sacred mission of freeing our hostages,” he assured last night in his televised speech.

The ceasefire would also allow Israel to “focus on the Iranian threat,” he added.

Iran hails Israel’s “end of aggression”.

OR Tehran considered the main supporter of Hezbollah, Hamas and other movements in the Middle East opposed to Israel.

Iranian diplomacy praised Israel’s “end to the offensive”. in Lebanon.

Iran “welcomes the news of the end of the Zionist regime’s attack on Lebanon” and expresses his “strong support for the Lebanese government, nation and resistance“, the representative of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmail Bagaei, said in a statement.