What's happened
A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been reached after 14 months of intense conflict. Lebanese citizens are returning to assess the extensive damage in areas like Beirut and Tyre, where Israeli bombardments have devastated communities. The ceasefire aims to establish a longer-term peace, but the humanitarian toll remains significant.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, Hezbollah's recent ceasefire is perceived as a defeat by many, with the article stating, 'Hezbollah entered a cease-fire... that it will struggle to convince anyone... is not in fact a defeat.' In contrast, the Associated Press highlights the immediate aftermath of the ceasefire, noting that 'Lebanese are returning to their homes and viewing the damage.' The Independent emphasizes the long-term humanitarian crisis, stating, 'the devastation caused by 14 months of fighting will linger for years.' This contrast illustrates differing perspectives on the ceasefire's implications for Hezbollah and the broader region.
How we got here
The conflict escalated after Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas following the October 7, 2023, attacks. Israel responded with extensive airstrikes, leading to significant casualties and displacement on both sides. The recent ceasefire was facilitated by negotiations involving the U.S. and France.
More on these topics
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. No recent population census has been conducted, but 2007 estimates ranged from slightly more than 1 million to 2.2 million as part of Greater Beirut, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant re
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Hassan Nasrallah is the third and current Secretary General of the Lebanese political and paramilitary party Hezbollah since his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, was assassinated by the Israel Defense Forces in February 1992.
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Tyre most often refers to:
Tyre (wheel), or tire, the outer part of a wheel
Tyre, Lebanon, a Mediterranean city
Tyre or Tyres may also refer to: