14 August 2006
A ceasefire to end the month-old war between Israel and Hezbollah has come into force on Monday but intense fighting continued in Lebanon right up to the deadline 8 a.m. local time. After the ceasefire deal took effect, the Israeli army began withdrawing its forces from Lebanon although it said it would maintain its air and sea blockade that has all but cut the country off from the outside world. Israeli forces had pursued their strikes against Hezbollah targets until the last minute. And just before the ceasefire took hold, Israeli warplanes dropped leaflets over Beirut blaming Hezbollah and its Iranian and Syrian "masters" for the devastating conflict. "With its isolationist, reckless and false policy, Hezbollah has brought you many achievements: destruction, displacement and death," said one leaflet. Can you pay this price a second time? Know that the Israeli Defense Forces will return and work with the required force against any terrorist act that will be launched from Lebanon to harm the state of Israel." The timing for the ceasefire was unveiled by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Saturday following the adoption of a Security Council resolution calling for a "cessation of hostilities" and deployment of an international peacekeeping force in south Lebanon. Israel has urged the world to apply UN resolution #1701 firmly, warning that Hezbollah must be dismantled and the Lebanese army quickly deployed in the militia's stronghold in the south. "The application of the resolution will depend on the will of the Lebanese government, but especially on the determination of the international community," foreign minister Tzipi Livni said.
