Lebanon ceasefire takes hold

Brokered by the United States, the temporary cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon is intended to pave the way for broader negotiations to end the wider regional war.

Celebrations broke out in Beirut and Sidon as the midnight deadline passed, though the calm remains fragile with reports of Israeli artillery shelling continuing in some border sectors.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the truce a 'gateway to negotiations' and emphasized that the country should no longer be an arena for foreign wars.

However, Hezbollah has warned that its 'fingers remain on the trigger,' and Israel's defense minister affirmed a commitment to eventually disarming the group.