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Lebanon Warns Iqlim Kharoub Residents From Contact With COVID-19 Patients

An aerial view shows the Lebanese capital Beirut's Martyrs Square almost deserted on March 26. AFP
An aerial view shows the Lebanese capital Beirut's Martyrs Square almost deserted on March 26. AFP
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Lebanon Warns Iqlim Kharoub Residents From Contact With COVID-19 Patients

An aerial view shows the Lebanese capital Beirut's Martyrs Square almost deserted on March 26. AFP
An aerial view shows the Lebanese capital Beirut's Martyrs Square almost deserted on March 26. AFP

A Lebanese deputy warned on Monday that the country would be at great risk if residents do not abide by the precautionary measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.

“Things are starting to get out of control. If we are not aware of the situation and respect precautionary measures, unfortunately, every house, village, or town will be a threat,” said MP Bilal Abdullah, who represents the Iqlim El-Kharroub region.

A major spike in COVID-19 infections was witnessed last week in the town of Mazboud, in Iqlim al-Kharroub.

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of people, particularly those who are in contact with the infected, who are not quarantined in the appropriate condition,” Abdullah said.

He uncovered the registry of new COVID-19 infections in the Iqlim. “Things are starting to get out of our control. This is what is happening in Mazboud, Barja, Chehime, and Katarmaya,” he said.

Last Friday, the municipality of Mazboud had declared a state of emergency over an increase in the number of coronavirus infections.

The Health Ministry said last week that the majority of the new cases recorded in the country are among residents who had come in contact with infected individuals.

On Monday, the Lebanese Health Ministry had reported only five infections with the COVID-19, bringing the country’s total number of cases to 1,119.

It said no fatalities were reported in the country during the past 24 hours, leaving the toll at 26.

Last week, the Lebanese government had extended lockdown measures until June 7 after the country witnessed a spike in the number of infected people with 63 cases confirmed Thursday and a further 62 registered Friday.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Hamad Hassan announced Monday via his Twitter account that a million masks will be distributed for free, in cooperation between the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities.

“A mask and safe distancing are the components for a conscious return journey,” Hassan said.

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Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Takes Effect

A view of Beirut, after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect on Wednesday after US President Joe Biden said both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France, as seen from Hazmieh, Lebanon November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
A view of Beirut, after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect on Wednesday after US President Joe Biden said both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France, as seen from Hazmieh, Lebanon November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
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Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Takes Effect

A view of Beirut, after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect on Wednesday after US President Joe Biden said both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France, as seen from Hazmieh, Lebanon November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
A view of Beirut, after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect on Wednesday after US President Joe Biden said both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France, as seen from Hazmieh, Lebanon November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

A ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah came into effect on Wednesday after both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the US and France, a rare victory for diplomacy in a region traumatised by two devastating wars for over a year.
Lebanon's army, which is tasked with helping make sure the ceasefire holds, said in a statement on Wednesday it was preparing to deploy to the south of the country.
The military also asked that residents of border villages delay returning home until the Israeli military, which has waged war against Hezbollah on several occasions and pushed around six km (4 miles) into Lebanese territory, withdraws.
The agreement, which promises to end a conflict across the Israeli-Lebanese border that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war last year, is a major achievement for the US in the waning days of President Joe Biden's administration.
Bursts of gunfire could be heard across Lebanon's capital Beirut after the ceasefire took effect at 0200 GMT. It was not immediately clear if the shooting was celebratory, as gunfire had also been used to alert residents who may have missed evacuation warnings issued by Israel's military.
Later, cars and vans piled high with mattresses, suitcases and even furniture streamed through the southern port city of Tyre, which was heavily bombed in the final days before the ceasefire, heading further south.
Some cars waved Lebanese flags, others honked, and one woman could be seen flashing the victory sign with her fingers.
Many of the villages the people were likely returning to have been destroyed. But displaced families renting out alternative housing have been under financial pressure and hoped to having avoid paying another month of rent, some of them told Reuters.
Some displaced people said they were still nervous about returning.
Hussam Arrout, a father of four who said he was displaced from Beirut's southern suburbs and was originally from the southern border village of Mays al-Jabal, said he was itching to get to his ancestral home.
"The Israelis haven't withdrawn in full, they're still on the edge. So we decided to wait until the army announces that we can go in. Then we'll turn the cars on immediately and go to the village," he said.
'PERMANENT CESSATION'
Biden spoke at the White House on Tuesday shortly after Israel's security cabinet approved the agreement in a 10-1 vote. He said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and that fighting would end at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT).
"This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities," Biden said. "What is left of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed to threaten the security of Israel again."
Israel will gradually withdraw its forces over 60 days as Lebanon's army takes control of territory near its border with Israel to ensure that Hezbollah does not rebuild its infrastructure there, Biden said.
"Civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities," he said.
Hezbollah has not formally commented on the ceasefire but senior official Hassan Fadlallah told Lebanon's Al Jadeed TV that while it supported the extension of the Lebanese state’s authority, the group would emerge from the war stronger.
"Thousands will join the resistance ... Disarming the resistance was an Israeli proposal that fell through," said Fadlallah, who is also a member of Lebanon's parliament.
Iran, which backs Hezbollah, the Palestinian group Hamas as well as the Houthi rebels that have attacked Israel from Yemen, said it welcomed the ceasefire.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on social-media platform X the deal was “the culmination of efforts undertaken for many months with the Israeli and Lebanese authorities, in close collaboration with the United States.”
Lebanon's Mikati issued a statement welcoming the deal. Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said the Lebanese army would have at least 5,000 troops deployed in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops withdrew.
Netanyahu said he was ready to implement a ceasefire but would respond forcefully to any violation by Hezbollah.
He said the ceasefire would allow Israel to focus on the threat from Iran, give the army an opportunity to rest and replenish supplies, and isolate Hamas, the Islamist militant group that triggered war in the region when it attacked Israel from Gaza last year.
'SET IT BACK DECADES'
"In full coordination with the United States, we retain complete military freedom of action. Should Hezbollah violate the agreement or attempt to rearm, we will strike decisively," Netanyahu said.
Hezbollah, which is allied to Hamas, was considerably weaker than it had been at the start of the conflict, he added.
"We have set it back decades, eliminated ... its top leaders, destroyed most of its rockets and missiles, neutralized thousands of fighters, and obliterated years of terror infrastructure near our border," he said.
A senior US official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, said the US and France would join a mechanism with the UNIFIL peacekeeping force that would work with Lebanon's army to deter potential violations of the ceasefire. US combat forces would not be deployed, the official said.
In the hours leading up to the ceasefire, hostilities raged as Israel ramped up its campaign of airstrikes in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, with health authorities reporting at least 18 killed.
The Israeli military said it struck "components of Hezbollah's financial management and systems" including a money-exchange office. Hezbollah also kept up rocket fire into Israel in the final hours.