Following 12 hours of calm along the Blue Line marking the border between Lebanon and Israel, the U.S. embassy in Lebanon expressed hope for a better tomorrow for Lebanon. This temporary ceasefire brought a renewed energy to the region, giving residents a welcomed break from the daily exchanges of fire between the armed group Hezbollah and Israel.
Residents reported that the frontier was quiet since just before 0700 local time on Friday morning, except for a small spray of fire from the Israeli side. The calm came after a truce brokered by Qatar between Israel and Hezbollah’s ally, Hamas in Gaza, even though it did not formally extend to Lebanon.
Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who leads the Shi’ite Amal Movement allied to Hezbollah, addressed the situation, stating that “what will happen in Gaza will happen in Lebanon.” He warned of potential disruptions in Lebanon if the truce in Gaza is disturbed, given the interconnectedness of the events.
Violence along the border has resulted in the death of 87 Hezbollah fighters, including some in neighboring Syria, since Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Israeli shelling in southern Lebanon has also claimed the lives of more than a dozen Lebanese civilians, including children and journalists.
The exchanges of fire had been escalating in the days leading up to the Hamas-Israel truce, adding to the tension in the region.
(Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Alistair Bell)
