Will the ceasefire hold?

10.11.02am GMT Mon 14th Aug 2006

Lebanon flag

The UN-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has begun, the real question is how long will it last. Israel were still launching air strikes until just 15 minutes before the ceasefire begun.

The ceasefire states that Hezbollah must end attacks on Israel and Israel must end offensive military operations. There will be 15,000 peacekeepers sent to the area and Lebanese troops to be deployed to south Lebanon. Israel is to withdraw troops as international force deployed.

Israel's Cabinet has approved the ceasefire but said it would continue to maintain an air and sea blockade of Lebanon and that troops would return fire if they came under attack. The Lebanese Cabinet's discussions broke down over the issue of disarming Hezbollah. Hezbollah vowed over to respect the ceasefire but would resist any continued Israeli presence in Lebanon after the deal came into force.

Yesterday saw the heaviest day of fighting, more than 1,000 Lebanese and 155 Israelis have been killed so far. There are now an estimated 30,000 Israeli Defence Force troops inside Lebanon.