Lebanon Ceasefire Holds Amid Lingering Tensions and Diplomatic Progress

A fragile ceasefire has largely taken hold in Lebanon, offering a much-needed respite after three months of intense conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The lull, described as the longest yet, began Saturday evening, providing a tentative calm across the region. However, lingering fear and the memory of quickly collapsed previous truces are keeping displaced populations hesitant to return to their homes.

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I'm monitoring the situation day by day, and most of the time I'm sleeping in the hospital. This is the longest a ceasefire has held.

Senior Lebanese security officials reported the ceasefire adherence as "almost total" since Saturday evening. Minor incidents, including an Israeli tank firing shells near Tyre and Israeli forces deploying sound grenades in other locations, were noted on Monday, alongside an Israeli drone buzzing over Beirut. These events underscore the delicate nature of the current peace.

Amidst these developments, US Vice President JD Vance announced progress in US-Iran talks aimed at a final peace deal. Vance stated that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, directly contradicting Iran's weekend announcement of its closure. This exchange highlights the complex diplomatic maneuvering occurring alongside the military standoff.

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People are still uneasy.

Doctors in affected areas, like Hassan Wazni, director of a hospital in the heavily bombarded city of Nabatieh, confirmed the calm since Saturday evening. "This is the longest a ceasefire has held," Wazni told Reuters, adding that "people are still uneasy." His sentiment is echoed by the municipal council of Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, which warned residents against returning until safety is assured.

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Still, the ‌Israeli military lifted safety restrictions in eight communities near the Lebanese border beginning at 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Monday.

Israeli forces maintain a significant presence deep within southern Lebanon, operating in a self-declared security zone where villages have been razed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed troops have "full freedom of action" to counter Hezbollah threats and will remain in Lebanon "as long as is necessary." Concurrently, Israel lifted safety restrictions in eight communities near the Lebanese border, signaling a localized easing of tensions.

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At Iran's ⁠insistence, an interim deal signed with the United States last week requires Washington, Tehran, and their allies to declare an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.