Israel, Lebanon Agree to Cease Fire

“I am very happy to announce that the two leaders have agreed that the cessation of hostilities and the end of the fighting will enter into force on 14 August, at 0500 GMT (2:00 p.m. KST),” U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan announced Saturday.

Annan also said on the day that he had been in touch with Prime Ministers Fuad Saniora of Lebanon and Ehud Olmert of Israel to draw up the agreement.

Prior to this, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Friday that calls for an immediate cessation of all the hostile activities of both Israel and Hezbollah and authorization of up to 15,000 UN troops to be deployed to war-torn southern Lebanon to enforce a ceasefire.

Experts believe this will bring major progress to the month-long Israel-Lebanon conflict

The resolution led by the U.S. and France urges the Hezbollah militia to stop all “attacks” immediately and for Israel to end "all offensive operations." The resolution also calls for the deployment of up to 15,000 international troops, along with an equal number of Lebanese forces, in southern Lebanon in parallel with Israel`s withdrawal from the area.

The resolution also bans the supply of weapons, ammunitions, military vehicles, equipment and parts to individuals or organizations in Lebanon to deter militant groups like Hezbollah.

However, the Israel army said it will continue defensive military operations against Hezbollah’s assaults, indicating the actual fighting might be prolonged as their interpretation of the cessation of offensive operations does not yet mean a complete ceasefire.

In the meanwhile, Israeli forces reinforced its assaults by mobilizing its tanks and sending troops deep into the frontlines of southern Lebanon to secure a larger portion of land before the ceasefire takes effect on Saturday.

kong@donga.com