| Announcement of a Cessation of Hostilities and Related Commitments on Enhanced Security Arrangements and Toward the Implementation ofUNSCR 1701 | |
|---|---|
The Israel–Lebanon–Syria border region | |
| Type | Ceasefire agreement |
| Context | Temporarily stopping the2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon and theIsrael–Hezbollah conflict, designed to cease hostilities permanently |
| Signed | 26 November 2024 (2024-11-26) |
| Effective | 27 November 2024 (2024-11-27), 02:00GMT |
| Mediators | |
| Parties | |
On 27 November 2024, aceasefire agreement was signed byIsrael,Lebanon, and five mediating countries, including theUnited States.[1]Hezbollah attacked Israel on 8 October 2023, leading toa year of cross-border fighting, and on 1 October 2024,Israel invaded Lebanon. The agreement mandates a 60-day halt to hostilities, during which Israel must withdraw its forces fromSouthern Lebanon,[2][3][4] and Hezbollah must withdraw its forces to north of theLitani River.[5] A five-country monitoring panel, led by the United States, would oversee the implementation, with 5,000Lebanese troops deployed to ensure compliance.[6][3] The agreement does not preclude either Israel or Lebanon from acting in self-defense, but Israeli and Lebanese officials disagreed with what that entails.[7] Since the ceasefire went into effect, Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health claimed Israeli attacks on Lebanon killed at least 83 civilians, while Israel said dozens of Hezbollah fighters were killed in the midst of ceasefire violations.[8][9] On 26 January 2025, the U.S. extended the agreement until 18 February.[10] Once this deadline lapsed, Israel withdrew from populated areas in southern Lebanon but declared that it would temporarily remain infive "strategic" Lebanese positions along the border [he].[11]
In November 2024, US envoyAmos Hochstein met with Lebanese and Israeli leaders to negotiate the ceasefire deal. In Lebanon, he met withLebanese Speaker of the ParliamentNabih Berri, who had Hezbollah's support to negotiate.[12] On 20 November, Hezbollah secretary-generalNaim Qassem approved the deal.[13] France was added as a mediator to the deal after it walked back on its statement that it wouldarrest Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.[14] After some delays from the Israeli side, Hochstein threatened to withdraw from negotiations unless Israel moved forward with the deal.[14][15] On 26 November,Israel's security cabinet endorsed the agreement with a 10–1 vote.[16] The ceasefire was hailed as a significant accomplishment for theadministration of US president Joe Biden, withBiden stating that the agreement was "designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities".[16][4]
The2006 Lebanon war ended withUN Resolution 1701, which called for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon and for Hezbollah to disarm and withdraw north of the Litani River.[17] However, it was violated by both sides, as Hezbollah continued to accumulate arms and failed to withdraw north and the Israeli military continued to violate Lebanese airspace in the absence of hostilities.[18] Due to economic crises, lack of resources, and historic weakness compared to both Hezbollah and Israel, numerous concerns have been raised regarding the Lebanese Armed Forces' ability to enforce both Resolution 1701 and the 2024 ceasefire.[6]
As of 3 December 2024[update], Israel has been accused of dozens of ceasefire violations, allegedly killing at least 15 people, including aLebanese Army officer and several civilians. Israel said its attacks targeted Hezbollah fighters south of the Litani or imminent threats to its troops.[19][20] Hezbollah has also allegedly violated the ceasefire on numerous instances by moving its fighters south of the Litani, and has fired onIsrael Defense Forces at least once without causing casualties.[21][22][23][24][25][26]
As of 12 May 2025[update], large-scale fighting between Israel and Hezbollah had not resumed, despite Israel (and allegedly Hezbollah) missing the deadline to complete their withdrawals, and despite the lack of a follow-up agreement. Though Israeli civilian areas were struck by rocket fire from Lebanon multiple times in March 2025, leading to retaliatory Israeli strikes onBeirut, Hezbollah claimed it did not commit the attacks on Israel and that it was committed to abiding by the terms of the ceasefire.[27]
Shortly after the onset of theGaza war in October 2023, Hezbollah joined the conflict, citing solidarity with Palestinians.[28] On 8 October 2023, Hezbollah started firing guidedrockets andartillery shells at Israeli positions in theShebaa Farms, which it said was in solidarity with Palestinians following the 7 October 2023Hamas attack on Israel and beginning ofIsraeli bombing of the Gaza Strip.[29][30] Israel retaliated by launchingdrone strikes and artillery shells at Hezbollah positions. Israel also carried out airstrikes throughout Lebanon and in Syria. This quickly escalated into regular cross-border military exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel, impactingnorthern Israel,southern Lebanon and theGolan Heights.[31] Hezbollah said it aimed to pressure Israel by forcing it to fight on two fronts.[32] Hezbollah has offered an immediate ceasefire shoulda ceasefire also happen in Gaza.[33][34]
In September 2024, Israel carried out two waves ofelectronic device attacks targeting Hezbollah's communication systems and assassinated the group's leading figures, including killing secretary-generalHassan Nasrallah during abombing on 27 September which destroyed Hezbollah's main headquarters inBeirut.[35] On 1 October, the Israeli military began afull-scale invasion of southern Lebanon[36] although it had been conducting limited ground operations for some time. Israeli operations led to the significant dismantling of Hezbollah's military infrastructure in southern Lebanon and the destruction of a large portion of its missile stockpile.[6]
In northern Israel, the conflict forced approximately 96,000 individuals to leave their homes,[37][38] while in Lebanon, over 1.4 million individuals have been displaced.[39] Hezbollah stated it would not stop attacks against Israel until it stops itsmilitary operations in Gaza;[40] Israel said its attacks would continue until its citizens could return safely to the north.[41]
On 5 January 2024, then Hezbollah Secretary GeneralHassan Nasrallah called for negotiations on the demarcation of theborder between Lebanon and Israel (also concerning the disputedShebaa Farms territory).[42] But he predicated these negotiations on a ceasefire in Gaza.[42] In July 2024, Nasrallah again promised a ceasefire on the Lebanese border should a ceasefire also happen in Gaza.[43][better source needed] In June 2024, US envoyAmos Hochstein travelled to Lebanon to meet Lebanese Speaker of the ParliamentNabih Berri.[44] He also met with Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu in Israel.[44] Hochstein also made a similar visit in August.[45] A Lebanese analyst stated at the time that Hezbollah had not expected thewar in Gaza "to continue for so long".[45]
On 25 September, the United States, European Union, Qatar and several other countries called for a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.[46] Hezbollah leader Nasrallah expressed his agreement with this ceasefire proposal to the Lebanese Foreign Minister, but this was not communicated to the US State Department.[47] On 27 September,Israel assassinated Nasrallah. A 60-day ceasefire was proposed in late October.[48]
In November 2024, US envoyAmos Hochstein met with Lebanese and Israeli leaders to negotiate the ceasefire deal. In Lebanon, he met withLebanese Speaker of the ParliamentNabih Berri, who had Hezbollah's support to negotiate.[12] On 20 November, Hezbollah Secretary-GeneralNaim Qassem said his organization had "provided feedback" on the proposed deal.[13] France was added as a mediator to the deal after it walked back on its statement that it wouldarrest Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.[14] After some delays from the Israeli side, Hochstein threatened to withdraw from negotiations unless Israel moved forward with the deal.[14][15] On 27 November,Israel's security cabinet endorsed the agreement with a 10–1 vote.[16] The ceasefire was hailed as a significant accomplishment for the Biden Administration, with US PresidentJoe Biden stating that the agreement was "designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities."[16][4]
On 26 November 2024,Prime Minister of IsraelBenjamin Netanyahu announced the transfer of a ceasefire agreement to theSecurity Cabinet of Israel.[49] The cabinet voted 10–1 in favor of approving the deal, with the sole opponent being National Security MinisterItamar Ben-Gvir.[50]
The ceasefire agreement includes 13 clauses related to cessation of hostilities and responsibilities of the Lebanese and Israeli forces, whose content is summarized as:[51][52][53]
According to Lebanese reports, a Lebanese government source reported that if no escalations or breaches of the agreement occur by 10 a.m. local time on 27 November 2024, the ceasefire agreement will go into effect.[54][55]Prime Minister of LebanonNajib Mikati issued strong support for the agreement and urged the international community to help implement the agreement immediately in order to "halt Israeli aggression".[49]
Israel has been accused of violating the ceasefire by the Lebanese government,[56] by Hezbollah and by France. On 2 December, France reported that Israel had violated the ceasefire 52 times.[26] Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 3 Lebanese civilians since the ceasefire went into effect.[57] Israel has accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire and announced its forces would remain in southern Lebanon beyond the 60-day deadline due to the Lebanese army not fully deploying and in some places helping Hezbollah.[58] As of 28 November, there were no reported instances of Hezbollah firing at Israel since the ceasefire took effect.[56] By October 2025, the Lebanese health ministry reported that more than 270 people, including 107 civilians and noncombatants, were killed and about 850 more were injured by Israeli forces since the ceasefire began.[59]
Nevertheless, as of 27 December, media reports that the ceasefire has largely continued to hold.[60]
Conflicting claims have arisen on what the first violation of the ceasefire was. As per Israel, the first violation occurred on 27 November at 9:30 AM, atKfar Kila, where "Hezbollah operatives reportedly entered the town of Kfar Kila, which is only a few kilometers from the border," including a local commander. Conflicting reports also arose on whether the four were arrested or driven away.[61][62][63] In the same incident, Israeli artillery fired 5 shells towards the Fatima border gate nearKhiyam.[64]
By contrast, Lebanese state media claimed that the first violation of the ceasefire occurred on 27 November 2024, when Israeli forces opened fire on a group of journalists in the southern Lebanese town of Khiam, just hours after the ceasefire began. The journalists, including Abdelkader Bay, a video journalist, were reporting from the area when the shooting took place. Bay, along with another journalist from TheAssociated Press and one fromSputnik, were wounded by Israeli gunfire. Bay recounted hearing the sound of Israeli tanks withdrawing from the area, followed by the sounds of gunfire directed at the group of journalists as they were filming. Despite clearly being identifiable as journalists, they were targeted by Israeli soldiers. Another journalist, Ali Hachicho, who was not injured, described how the shots were fired as soon as the journalists began documenting the military activities. The incident was condemned by theSyndicate of Lebanese Press Editors, who marked it as the first violation of the ceasefire agreement.[65][66][67]
According to Arab and Israeli sources, since the 2024 Ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah has been rearming itself and is constantly violating the agreement from day one. The organization is using Beirut seaport and the eastern smuggling routes to Syria. The have acquired missiles, rockets, antitank missiles and artillery. Reports also say that Hezbollah is manufacturing its own weapons, with its activity mainly in Beirut suburbs and the Bekaa Valley.[68][69]
The IDF said suspects approached border areas which the ceasefire makes off-limits. They also identified activity in a Hezbollah facility used to hold medium-range rockets. The IDF also said that 2 Hezbollah members entered a site in Southern Lebanon used to fire dozens of rockets at Israel. The IDF also said that Hezbollah members attempted to reach no-go zones near the Israel-Lebanon border in violation of the ceasefire agreement.[70] Other suspects were reported to have arrived in violation of the ceasefire to Southern Lebanon.[71] On December 1, the IDF identifiedHezbollah operatives who it claimed fired at them from a church in South Lebanon, and killed several.[21]
The day after the ceasefire, the IDF shot at civilians returning to Khiam and used drones in the area, with reports from Israeli Army Radio and Channel 12 News indicating several civilian deaths. The Lebanese army did not comment on the incident.[23] On 28 November, Lebanon accused Israel of violating the ceasefire with airstrikes and shelling on several villages, resulting in two injuries from tank fire.[56] The Israeli airstrike targeted Hezbollah militants north of the Litani River, an area outside the ceasefire agreement.[72] Additionally, Israeli forces injured civilians in Al-Taybeh and Marjeyouan, demolished homes in southern Lebanon, and moved into areas that it previously hadn't reached.[73]
Hassan Fadlallah, a member of the Lebanese Parliament, claimed that Israel targeted civilians seeking to return home.[74] On 27 November, Nabih Berri, who negotiated the agreement from the Lebanese side, had told Lebanese refugees that they could return home. Meanwhile, Israeli PM Netanyahu instructed the Israeli army not to immediately allow refugees into villages near the border.[74] The IDF said this was for their own safety. The IDF fired warning shots at vehicles approachingKafr Kila, shot several people inMais al-Jabal, and detained four Lebanese citizens it said were Hezbollah members.[75] Despite the warnings, thousands of displaced Lebanese families began to return to their homes in southern Lebanon.[76]
TheIDF has been accused of several instances of civilian targeting and/or civilian infrastructure destruction since the ceasefire. No such instances have been attributed toHezbollah as of February 2025:
| Date | Location | Description/Cause | Deaths | Injured | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 November 2024 | Kafr Kila andMais al-Jabal | The IDF shot at returning Lebanese civilians. | Unknown | Unknown | [77] |
| 27–28 November 2024 | Khiam and several other villages | The IDF shot at returning civilians in Khiam and flew drones in the area, allegedly killing several and wounding more. Additionally, IDF tanks wounded Lebanese civilians. | 0 | 2 | [56] |
| 29 November 2024 | Al-Taybeh | A drone strike targeting a civilian gathering at a square in Al-Taybeh and shelled areas of the Marjeyouan plain, injuring several people including a child. | 0 | 3 | [22][23] |
| Tebna andMarkaba | The IDF also allegedly demolished reportedly demolished numerous homes and moved in to the Tebnaarea. It also fired on civilians in a funeral. In Markaba, the IDF targeted a car with a drone-based airstrike. | 0 | 3 | ||
| Israeli soldiers published a video of them deliberately running over and destroying ambulances in Southern Lebanon. On the same day, IDF forces pushed into areas of Lebanon which they had not previously entered with tanks and artillery, advancing on Markaba and Khiam. They reportedly began demolishing roads and buildings in the areas they occupied. | 0 | 0 | |||
| 30 November 2024 | Majdal Zoun | An Israeli drone attacked a car in Majdal Zoun, injuring civilians including a child. | 0 | 3 | [19] |
| 2 December 2024 | Haris | An Israeli strike on a house in Haris. | 5 | 2 | [78][20] |
| Tallouseh | Several people were killed and injured by Israeli attacks in the town. | 4 | 3 | ||
| 8 December 2024 | Dibbin | An Israeli airstrike targeted civilians in Dibbin, South Lebanon. | 3 | 0 | [79] |
| 26 January 2025 | South Lebanon | At least 26 people have been killed by Israeli forces in South Lebanon, and injuring over a hundred more. The attacks came on the day when Israeli troops were supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon and allow civilians to return home. The United States announced that the deadline for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon was extended to February 18. | 26 | 100+ | [80][81][82] |
| 27 January 2025 | South Lebanon | Israeli forces opened fire into several residents in South Lebanon, killing and injuring civilians, according to Lebanon's health ministry. | 2 | 17 | [83] |
| 31 January 2025 | Janta,Beqaa Valley | Several people were killed and injured by an Israeli airstrike. | 2 | 10 | [84] |
| 8 February 2025 | Beqaa Valley | Israel launched an air raid in eastern Beqaa Valley, where Israel claimed they were targeting Hezbollah "operatives". | 6 | 2 | [85][86] |
| 13 February 2025 | South Lebanon | The Israeli military destroyed several sites in southern Lebanon, allegedly because the sites housed weapons depots and missile launch platforms, according to a military statement. | 0 | 0 | [87] |
| 14 February 2025 | Nabatiyeh andTyre | Israeli forces launched two airstrikes in areas of Nabatiyeh and Tyre. | 0 | 0 | [88] |
| 15 February 2025 | Iqlim al-Tuffah | An Israeli airstrike hit a car in Iqlim al-Tuffah, in southern Lebanon. | 2 | 4 | [89][90] |
| 16 February 2025 | Houla, Lebanon | Israeli forces opened fire upon civilians trying return to Houla, killing a woman. | 1 | Several | [91][92] |
| 25 February 2025 | Beqaa Valley | Two people were killed by an Israeli airstrike. | 2 | 0 | [93] |
| 8 March 2025 | South Lebanon | A Lebanese man was killed and another man was injured in an Israeli airstrike. | 1 | 1 | [94][95] |
| 22 March 2025 | Israeli forces launched rocket attacks into Lebanon, killing seven, including a child and injured 40 others. | 7 | 40 | [96] | |
| 28 March 2025 | Kfar Tebnit andBeirut | Several people were killed by Israeli airstrikes in south Lebanon and Beirut. | 3 | 18 | [97] |
| 1 April 2025 | Beirut | An Israeli airstrike targeted Beirut. | 4 | 7 | [98] |
| 18 April 2025 | Sidon and a road betweenAyta ash-Shaab andRmaish | Israeli forces launched two separate drone strikes, killing two people. Israel claimed that both of them were members of Hezbollah. | 2 | 0 | [99] |
| 27 April 2025 | Dahieh, Beirut | Israel launched an airstrike on Dahieh, Beirut. | 0 | 0 | [100] |
| Halta,Nabatieh | One person was killed by an Israeli airstrike. | 1 | 0 | [101] | |
| 1 May 2025 | Mais al-Jabal | Three people, including two Syrian nationals, were killed on a vehicle by an Israeli attack. On that same day, a volunteer of theLebanese Civil Defense was killed by a drone strike by Israel. | 4 | 0 | [102] |
| 8 May 2025 | Nabatieh Governorate | One person was killed while eight others were wounded in several locations by Israeli forces. | 1 | 8 | [103] |
| 22 May 2025 | Toul | 1 | 1 | [104] | |
| 29 May 2025 | Nabatieh al-Fawqa andKfar Kila | Several airstrikes targeted south Lebanon, killing two people, including a municipal worker. | 2 | 0 | [105] |
| 31 May 2025 | Deir ez-Zahrani, Nabatieh Governorate | An Israeli attack targeted a Hezbollah member while he was in a vehicle, killing him. | 1 | 0 | [106] |
| 27 June 2025 | Kounin andMahrouna | One person was killed in Kounin while two others were killed by Israeli attacks. | 3 | 0 | [107] |
| 8 July 2025 | Tripoli | Israeli forces targeted a vehicle in Tripoli. | 3 | 13 | [108] |
| 15 July 2025 | Beqaa Valley | Out of the twelve killed, five of them were Hezbollah members. | 12 | Unknown | [109] |
| 21 September 2025 | Bint Jbeil | Five people, including three children, were killed by an Israeli drone. Four of them had American citizenship. | 5 | 2 | [110] |
| 11 October 2025 | Msayleh, south Lebanon | 1 | 7 | [111] | |
| 23 October 2025 | Eastern and southern Lebanon | The Israeli military launched several airstrikes, claiming that it "struck several terrorist targets" including "a camp used for training Hezbollah militants". An elderly woman was one of the victims who was killed by the attacks. | 4 | Unknown | [112] |
| 8 November 2025 | BetweenAin Aata andShebaa. | Two people were killed in an Israeli air raid on a vehicle. | 2 | 0 | [113] |
| Bint Jbeil andBaraashit | Two separate drone strikes targeted civilians in southern Lebanon, targeting a car in Bint Jbeil, injuring seven people and another car in Baraashit, killing one and injuring four others. | 1 | 11 | ||
| 18 November 2025 | Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp,Sidon | Israel claimed that it targeted a "Hamas training compound" that was being used "to prepare an attack" against Israel and its army. | 13 | Several | [114] |
| 22 November 2025 | Zawtar al-Sharqiyah | An Israeli airstrike targeted a man while driving in his vehicle. The Israeli military claimed that the man, identified by theNational News Agency as Kamel Reda Qarnabash, was allegedly a member of Hezbollah. | 1 | 0 | [115] |
Prime MinisterNajib Mikati called for unity in Lebanon after the "most cruel phase in Lebanese history", stressing that the Lebanese army should provide security in southern Lebanon and that Israel abides by the deal and withdraws from Lebanese territory. He said that he hoped for a "new page" after the ceasefire.[116]
On April 2025, Hezbollah signaled willingness to discuss disarmament with President Joseph Aoun, on the condition that Israel withdraws fromfive southern hilltop positions [he] and halts its strikes. Aoun, under rising pressure, seeks to bring all weapons under state control. The group, weakened by the 2024 conflict, insists Israel must act first before any transfer of arms.[117]
In a public announcement on Israeli television following deliberation of the ceasefire terms, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted his support for the deal on the basis that a ceasefire would allow the IDF to focus primarily on theGaza war and towards the "Iranian threat". He stated that "we are changing the face of the region".[49]
He further stated that the ceasefire was considered due to claimed Israeli success in the2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon because Hezbollah was "no longer the same group that launched a war against us", and that the Israeli Defense Forces had "set them back decades". He stated that the Israeli army had achieved many of its goals in the invasion and airstrikes by killing most of Hezbollah's leadership and destroying large numbers of Lebanese infrastructure linked to them.[49]
FormerIsraeli consul-general and ambassadorAlon Pinkas deemed the deal "unenforceable" due to it assuming that the Lebanese army will supervise weapon production and distribution. He described this assumption as "impossible" due to Hezbollah's independence from the Lebanese army in weapon distribution and inability to cooperate.[49]
Israeli Security Minister andfar-right politicianItamar Ben-Gvir expressed dissatisfaction with the ceasefire deal due to it not providing Israel with a "security belt", not allowing Israelis to return toNorthern Israel, and not providing the Lebanese army resistance against Hezbollah.[49]
Al Jazeera political analystMarwan Bishara called the deal a "very temporary, fragile truce" due to it allowing Israel to resume military operations at any perceived provocation by Hezbollah and Israel's continued commitment to breaking down Hezbollah.[49]
Many Lebanese are eager for an end to the conflict, but concerns[by whom?] persist that Hezbollah may disregard the ceasefire and rearm in southern Lebanon.[6][3] On the Israeli side, the prolonged displacement of civilians near the border and the strain on the military continue to drive the need for a solution.[6]
Writing for theInstitute for the Study of War, Brian Carter argued that the ceasefire agreement represented a significant military victory for Israel. In his analysis, Israel had dealt severe damage to Hezbollah and achieved its key objectives, while forcing Hezbollah to concede its own stated objective (to force an end to theGaza war). While arguing that the war and the resulting agreement had significantly shifted the strategic situation in Israel's favor, he also stated that Hezbollah would almost certainly attempt to rebuild its strength.[127]
According toThe New York Times, Hezbollah abandoning its demand that they would accept a ceasefire only if Israel stopped attacking Gaza, and agreeing to give an oversight role to the United States, were signs that they were desperate to stop the war.[128]
Prime Minister Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Israel would "maintain full freedom of military action" in Lebanon...But Lebanese officials said they would oppose any violations of Lebanon's sovereignty.