A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah largely remained in effect on Monday, marking the longest period of calm since the conflict escalated three months ago. However, uncertainty over its durability has kept many displaced Lebanese residents from returning home, while diplomatic efforts continue to reinforce the truce.
According to a senior Lebanese security official, compliance with the ceasefire has been âalmost totalâ since Saturday evening. Despite the relative calm, isolated incidents were reported, including Israeli tank shelling near Tyre, the use of sound grenades in two locations, and Israeli drone activity over Beirut.
Hassan Wazni, director of a hospital in Nabatieh, one of the areas most heavily affected by the fighting, said the situation had remained stable since Saturday.
âIâm monitoring the situation day by day, and most of the time Iâm sleeping in the hospital. This is the longest a ceasefire has held,â Wazni said.
Despite the lull, many residents remain reluctant to return after a previous ceasefire announced on Friday quickly collapsed, leading to Israeli strikes that killed 20 people on Saturday, according to Lebanonâs civil defence.
âPeople are still uneasy,â Wazni said.
Local authorities in Zawtar El Charqiyeh also advised residents not to return until security conditions improve.
Israeli forces continue to maintain positions in parts of southern Lebanon within a self-declared security zone. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli troops would retain operational freedom against any perceived Hezbollah threats and would remain in Lebanon for âas long as is necessaryâ.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the concept of any Israeli-controlled security zone inside Lebanese territory.
The ceasefire had come under strain last week after renewed clashes and Israeli air strikes coincided with Iranâs temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli military actions. Nevertheless, Israel eased security restrictions in eight communities near the Lebanese border on Monday.
Diplomatic push to sustain truce
Separately, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun discussed efforts to preserve the ceasefire during a call with US Vice President JD Vance, senior adviser Jared Kushner, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
According to the Lebanese presidency, discussions focused on strengthening the ceasefire, preventing further Israeli military escalation, and exploring âthe possibility of forming a cell for this purposeâ.
Following the first round of US-Iran talks in Switzerland, mediators Pakistan and Qatar announced plans to establish a deconfliction mechanism intended to prevent incidents from escalating into broader conflict. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the initiative on X as: â1st real test: Lebanon deconfliction cell.â
Vance said the mechanism aims to ensure âthat when things happen, they donât spiral into a broader escalation.â
âWe do believe ⊠that we can get to a place where Lebanonâs territorial integrity and sovereignty is protected, Israelâs security is protected,â Vance said.
âThatâs going to require some coordination with the Lebanese armed forces, and also itâs going to require the Iranians to rein in Hezbollah.â
Under US-backed efforts, Lebanon and Israel began direct negotiations in April, with a fifth round of talks scheduled for Tuesday.
Lebanese officials have stressed that their discussions with Israel remain independent of the wider US-Iran negotiations.
âWe negotiate for ourselves, and we do not accept any other party doing so for us,â Aoun said.
âWe welcome any assistance ⊠but there is a big difference between trying to help us and interfering in our internal affairs,â he added.
