In its first statement after a ceasefire brokered by the US and France took effect in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the Lebanese group said: "The Islamic Resistance was able to achieve victory over the delusional enemy who was unable to undermine our resolve or break our will."

"The final word was on the battlefield. Our mujahideen, who relied on God Almighty, thwarted the enemy's objectives and defeated his army."

"In support of the steadfast Palestinian people and their honourable resistance, and defence of our resilient Lebanese people, the Islamic Resistance fulfilled the command of its martyred Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and his successor, Sheikh Naim Qassem," the statement read.

Hezbollah also pledged to remain ready to defend against any future Israeli aggression.

The damage is done!
 

The Israeli war on Lebanon killed and wounded nearly 20,000 Lebanese civilians from 8 October 2023 till the ceasefire took effect.

Weeks and months of mad Israeli airstrikes have destroyed tens of thousands of homes and residential buildings in the country, displacing more than 1.5 million civilians.

Airstrikes levelled entire residential buildings in Dahiya in southern Beirut, central Beirut, Beqaa Valley in the east and elsewhere in the country.

In south Lebanon, the Israeli army detonated tens of villages out of existence.

Israeli airstrikes also considerably damaged Hezbollah's missile and military capabilities, according to various independent reports.

As per the truce agreement, primarily based on the 2006 UNSC Resolution 1701 and to be monitored by the US, France, and the UNIFIL, the Israeli army would withdraw from the south of Lebanon gradually within 60 days after the Lebanese National Army completes its deployment in border areas.

Hezbollah has agreed to implement a 1701 stipulation that its forces would withdraw north of the Litani River, leaving the Lebanese National Army as the sole national armed force south of the river conditioned on Israeli respect of the resolution that ended the 2006 war between Israel and the group.

In the minutes following the start of the ceasefire, thousands of Lebanese refugees anxious to return to their home villages and towns in the south packed their belongings and headed back in convoys to their homes.

However, on Wednesday afternoon, Lebanese PM Najib Mikati asked these anxious refugees from the south eager to return to their villages and towns to be patient, stressing that it would take the National Army at least a week to deploy along the borders.

Meanwhile, shortly after the ceasefire took effect, Hezbollah let it be known on the streets of Lebanon that the group would hold a mass, public funeral for its late leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on Dahiya in mid-September.

As the sun rose over Lebanon on Wednesday, residents poured into the streets to examine the unfathomed extent of the damage to their homes and lives caused by the Israeli airstrikes everywhere in the country.

Many supporters of Hezbollah in Dahiya carried pictures of the assassinated leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashed Safieddin while flashing a victory sign.

Most people did not know what to make of the damages and destruction left by another round of Israeli aggression on their country.

Operations in numbers
 

In its statement on Wednesday, Hezbollah reported over 4,637 military operations since 8 October 2023 in solidarity with the Palestinians who were under attack by the Israeli military - averaging 11 operations daily.

A total of 1,666 operations were carried out against Israeli troops and targets following Israel's military escalation against Lebanon, which began on 17 September 2024 -  averaging 23 operations per day.

These operations targeted Israeli military sites, barracks, and bases, as well as cities and settlements across Israel, extending from the Lebanese-Israeli border to areas beyond Tel Aviv.

The statement also highlighted that its fighters repelled Israeli ground incursions into Lebanese territory.

Hezbollah conducted 105 special operations against strategic Israeli military sites for the first time in the history of the conflict.

These strikes used advanced ballistic missiles and drones, some reaching as far as 150 kilometres into Israeli territory.

The group's statement listed significant Israeli casualties, including over 130 soldiers killed and more than 1,250 wounded, from the start of the Israeli ground incursion in late September till the ceasefire was signed.

Hezbollah also announced that its fighters had destroyed 59 Merkava tanks, 11 bulldozers, two armoured vehicles, and two troop carriers.

Additionally, it downed six Israeli Hermes 450 drones, two Hermes 900 drones, and one Quadcopter drone.

Hezbollah stressed that Israeli forces failed to establish control over any Lebanese towns on or near the frontlines for the duration of the ground incursion.

The statement said Hezbollah's steadfast resistance thwarted Israeli efforts to create a security buffer zone.

The group announced victory in key battles fought against the Israeli troops for over 50 days in south Lebanon, including Bint Jbeil and Al-Khiam, describing Israel's second phase of the ground operation as merely a "media stunt."