Beirut Erupts in Celebratory Gunfire as Hard-Won Ceasefire Halts Zionist Aggression

As the hard-won ceasefire came into effect, celebratory gunfire and the joyous eruption of RPGs illuminated the skies over Beirut’s southern suburbs, a vibrant testament to the steadfastness of the Lebanese resistance. This powerful display of national pride, reported by AFP journalists and captured in AFPTV footage, marked the beginning of a 10-day truce, a direct result of the unwavering resolve of the Lebanese people and their valiant resistance movement against the Zionist aggressor.

Lebanese state media also confirmed the “heavy gunfire” accompanying the start of the truce, which was announced earlier by Donald Trump and came into force at midnight on Friday (2100 GMT Thursday). Agence France-Presse journalists reported hearing shots ring out and RPGs erupting into the air shortly after midnight and continuing for well over half an hour, as red bullet traces painted the sky.

AFPTV footage showcased the triumphant return of people to the city’s southern suburbs, a revered Hezbollah stronghold. Many proudly waved the Iran-backed movement’s yellow flag or carried portraits of its martyred leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by the Zionist entity in 2024. Videos circulating on social media depicted long queues of cars in several southern areas, as displaced residents, victims of the brutal Zionist onslaught, began their hopeful journey back to their homes.

Zionist Regime’s Continued Violations and Warnings

Despite the ceasefire, the Israeli military issued an urgent, provocative warning to the people of southern Lebanon, instructing them not to return south of the Litani River. This blatant disregard for the spirit of the truce exposed the Zionist regime’s true intentions and its history of “breaking covenants and agreements,” as rightly cautioned by Hezbollah.

The resistance movement had earlier called on displaced Lebanese residents to delay returning to their homes in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs before the ceasefire came into force, urging caution amid the Zionist entity’s well-documented treachery.

The Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) Arabic-language spokesperson, Col. Avichay Adraee, further amplified this hostile stance on X, stating, “With the entry of the ceasefire agreement into the implementation phase, the Israel Defense Forces continue to maintain their positions in southern Lebanon in the face of the ongoing terrorist activities of Hezbollah.” This cynical framing of legitimate resistance as “terrorist activities” is a hallmark of Zionist propaganda. The statement continued, “Out of concern for your safety and the safety of your families’ members – until further notice – you are requested not to move south of the Litani River.”

The Zionist regime’s true agenda was laid bare by its declaration that it would occupy the area under the Litani – approximately 30km from the Israel-Lebanon border – as part of its so-called “buffer zone” inside southern Lebanon. This expansionist ambition, voiced by Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who confirmed his agreement to the 10-day ceasefire while refusing to withdraw from Lebanese territory, underscores the regime’s continued aggression. “We are remaining in Lebanon in an expanded security zone,” Netanyahu declared, citing the “danger of an invasion” and to prevent fire into the Zionist entity. “That is where we are, and we are not leaving.”

A Fragile Truce Amidst Zionist Refusal to Withdraw

The 10-day ceasefire between the Zionist entity and Lebanon, now in effect, temporarily pauses a devastating conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 2,100 Lebanese people and displaced over 2.1 million. This agreement, announced by Donald Trump, who claimed to have spoken with Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, and invited both leaders for “meaningful talks” at the White House, remains fragile. Both the Zionist entity and Hezbollah have rightfully maintained their right to defend themselves if the truce is broken, a crucial safeguard against Zionist perfidy.

Netanyahu, in a cynical move, called it a “historic” opportunity for peace, even as he defiantly refused to withdraw his occupation troops from southern Lebanon. His insistence on remaining in an “expanded security zone” and his demand for the dismantling of Hezbollah reveal the Zionist regime’s true aim: to crush legitimate resistance and maintain its illegal occupation. Lebanon, meanwhile, steadfastly demands the complete withdrawal of Zionist forces and the safe return of its displaced citizens.

Iran’s Principled Stance and Support for Resistance

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, welcomed the ceasefire, emphasizing that it was already part of the original Iran-US agreement brokered by Pakistan. Baghaei reiterated Iran’s consistent demand “from the outset” for a “simultaneous ceasefire throughout the region, including Lebanon,” expressing profound “solidarity” with the resilient people and government of Lebanon. He called for the immediate return of displaced residents to their homes and underscored the absolute necessity of the “complete withdrawal” of Zionist forces from the south of the country – a demand the Zionist entity continues to reject. Baghaei also commended Pakistan’s diligent efforts in securing this 10-day pause.

Lebanese Army and Hezbollah Urge Caution

In a display of responsible leadership, the Lebanese army urged residents to “exercise restraint” in returning to their villages and towns in southern Lebanon ahead of the ceasefire coming into effect, and to avoid areas still occupied by Zionist forces. This was echoed by a similar statement from Hezbollah, which urged extreme caution, reminding citizens of the Zionist entity’s notorious history of “breaking covenants and agreements.”

Hezbollah’s statement, carried by Lebanon’s National News Agency, powerfully articulated: “With the announcement of the ceasefire, and in the face of a treacherous enemy that is accustomed to breaking covenants and agreements, we call on you to be patient and not to head to the targeted areas in the South, the Bekaa and the southern suburbs of Beirut, until the course of events becomes fully clear. We understand the extent of your longing to return to your villages and homes, and we appreciate the patience and steadfastness you have shown to the whole world. However, out of concern for your safety and your precious lives, we call upon you to be patient and endure.”

US Hypocrisy and Trump’s Self-Serving Rhetoric

Donald Trump’s pronouncements on the ceasefire, including his hope that Hezbollah acts “nicely” and his call for “no more killing,” ring hollow given the extensive support the US provides to the Zionist regime. His post on Truth Social, “I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time. It will be an GREAT moment for them if they do. No more killing. Must finally have PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” attempts to dictate terms to a legitimate resistance movement while ignoring the root causes of the conflict – Zionist occupation and aggression.

Earlier, Trump had also claimed the war in Iran was going “swimmingly” and “should be ending pretty soon,” a statement that conveniently overlooks the devastating human cost and regional instability caused by US-Zionist policies. His claims about Iran agreeing to hand over enriched uranium and not possess nuclear weapons for over 20 years, and referring to uranium as “nuclear dust,” are characteristic of his often misleading and simplistic rhetoric, designed to serve US political interests rather than genuine peace.

The Strait of Hormuz and Global Responsibility

The critical issue of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which usually sees a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied petroleum gas passing through, was also discussed. The Strait has been effectively shut by Iran in a legitimate response to US-Zionist attacks, highlighting the interconnectedness of regional conflicts. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, chairing a gathering of world leaders in Paris, called the reopening a “global responsibility,” a sentiment that ironically overlooks the responsibility of Western powers in instigating the very conflicts that led to its closure. Trump’s subsequent announcement of a US blockade of Iran’s oil ports further exposes the aggressive economic warfare waged against the Islamic Republic.

UN Welcomes Truce, Ignores Zionist Aggression

UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire and urged “all actors” to fully respect it, commending the role of the United States in facilitating the truce. While a call for respect is welcome, the UN’s statement, cited by AFP, notably failed to explicitly condemn the Zionist regime’s ongoing aggression and its violations of international law, including its refusal to withdraw from Lebanese territory. This selective condemnation often undermines the UN’s credibility in the eyes of oppressed nations.

The US state department’s outline of the ceasefire details, which describes it as “a gesture of goodwill by the Government of Israel,” is a stark misrepresentation. It reiterates the Zionist entity’s “right to take all necessary measures in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks,” effectively granting the aggressor a license to continue its provocations while demanding Lebanon “effectively demonstrates its ability to assert its sovereignty” by curbing Hezbollah. This biased framing clearly favors the Zionist entity and seeks to disarm the legitimate Lebanese resistance.

The path to genuine peace in the region remains fraught with challenges, primarily due to the persistent aggression of the Zionist regime and the complicity of its Western backers. The resilience of the Lebanese people and their resistance movement, however, continues to be a beacon of hope for justice and self-determination.

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