Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire: Key Insights and UNSC Resolution 1701 Explained

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What is UNSC Resolution 1701?
• key takeaways from Israel-Lebanon ceasefire
• Reasons for Israel's Ceasefire Decision

Why in News?

Israel and Lebanon have entered into a ceasefire. This happened a day after Israel’s security cabinet approved a US-backed proposal to end the 13-month-long conflict that escalated in September.

This ceasefire has been modeled after UNSC Resolution 1701 from the 2006 conflict.

What is UNSC Resolution 1701?

• Overview of UNSC Resolution 1701
  • UNSC Resolution 1701, adopted on August 11, 2006, seeks to end hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, establish a buffer zone, and achieve a permanent ceasefire.
• Historical Context
  • The resolution aimed to complete Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon along the Blue Line and Golan Heights, following its partial withdrawal in 2000.
  • Triggered by Hezbollah's attack in July 2006, which killed three Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two, the ensuing war lasted over a month, causing significant casualties (1,000+ Lebanese and 170 Israelis).
• Key Provisions
  • Disarmament and Sovereignty:
    • Full disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, ensuring the Lebanese State's monopoly over weapons and authority.
    • Prohibition of foreign forces in Lebanon without government consent.
  • Arms Control:
    • No sales or supply of arms to Lebanon without government authorization.
  • Landmine Information:
    • Israel to provide maps of landmines in Lebanon to the UN.
  • Buffer Zone and Ceasefire:
    • Respect for the Blue Line by both parties.
    • Creation of a demilitarized zone free of armed personnel and weapons, apart from Lebanese authorities and UNIFIL, between the Blue Line and the Litani River.
  • UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) Mandate
    • The resolution authorized up to 15,000 UN peacekeepers to:
    • Monitor the cessation of hostilities.
    • Assist Lebanese troops in securing the buffer zone.
    • Ensure the safe return of displaced Lebanese populations.

key takeaways from Israel-Lebanon ceasefire

• Cessation of hostilities
  • A 60-day cessation of hostilities has been established as a framework for a lasting truce between Israel and Hezbollah.
• Withdrawal of Forces
  • Hezbollah: Required to retreat approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Israel-Lebanon border.
  • Israel: Committed to withdrawing its ground forces from Lebanese territory.
• Basis of the Deal
  • The agreement is rooted in UNSC Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war. Negotiations focused on the resolution's enforcement.
• Enhanced Monitoring and Supervision
  • Lebanon will intensify its oversight of Hezbollah’s movements south of the Litani River to prevent regrouping.
• Monitoring responsibilities are shared by:
  • United Nations peacekeeping troops.
  • The Lebanese military.
  • A multinational committee (A key update is the inclusion of the U.S. and France in the oversight mechanism, alongside Lebanon, Israel, and UNIFIL.)
• Israel’s Conditional Stance
  • Israel has warned it will resume military operations if the agreement is breached.
  • The agreement does not mandate complete disarmament of Hezbollah in northern Lebanon.

Reasons for Israel's Ceasefire Decision

• Focus on Iran: Israel aims to direct its attention toward countering Iran.
• Military Replenishment: The ceasefire allows Israeli forces to regroup and replenish resources.
• Separation of Fronts: By halting conflict with Hezbollah, Israel seeks to isolate the Hamas and Hezbollah theaters of war.
• Hezbollah's Parallel Front: Hezbollah opened a secondary front in support of Hamas following Hamas’s terror attack and Israel's subsequent bombardment of Gaza.
• Additional Factors Influencing the Decision
  • Civil-Military Dynamics in Israel
    • Former Defense Minister and the IDF Chief of Staff advocated for a ceasefire, questioning the government’s military objectives.
  • Strategic Challenges in Lebanon
    • Prolonged military presence in Lebanon risks wearing down the IDF and strengthening Hezbollah’s domestic support.
  • Hezbollah's Resilience
    • Despite heavy losses, Hezbollah retained the capability to strike, launching 250 rockets two days before the ceasefire.
    • Israel’s symbolic achievement of reaching the Litani River was followed by a ceasefire to avoid a prolonged and costly conflict.

Q.1. What are the key terms of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement?

The ceasefire includes a 60-day cessation of hostilities, Hezbollah’s withdrawal 40 km from the border, Israel’s troop withdrawal from Lebanon, and enhanced monitoring by UNIFIL, the Lebanese military, and a multinational committee.

Q.2. Why did Israel agree to the ceasefire with Hezbollah?

Israel’s decision stems from strategic priorities: focusing on countering Iran, regrouping its military, isolating the Hezbollah and Hamas fronts, and avoiding prolonged conflict that could bolster Hezbollah’s domestic support.

News: What is the UNSC Resolution 1701 upon which the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is based? | Indian Express | CNN