Hamas ready for truce, IDF fires at Lebanese, Hezbollah, returning to southern Lebanon

US President Joe Biden intends to begin work on a Gaza ceasefire on Wednesday, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told MSNBC.

After the IDF issued evacuation orders to several Beirut suburbs, and prior to the ceasefire taking effect, the Israel Air Force conducted several precise strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, the military confirmed on Wednesday. 

In these strikes, the IAF reportedly targeted Hezbollah command centers, launchers, weapons storage facilities, and other terrorist infrastructure.

The IDF noted that it struck sites in several localities, including Beirut, Tyre, and Nabatieh. 

Lebanese Defense Minister Maurice Sleem said on Wednesday that Israel's ability to maintain operational freedom during the ceasefire contradicts the truce that came into effect early Wednesday morning, Lebanese state media National News Agency reported. 

The "talks about the Israeli enemy's operational freedom in Lebanon contradict the content of the published 13-item agreement," the agency quoted Sleem as saying.

"The agreement provides for both sides' self-defense right," he reportedly said. "What matters to us is that nothing tampers with national sovereignty and that the security and peace of our people is preserved."

The Israel Defense Forces have seized masses of weapons from Hezbollah in almost two months of fighting on the ground in Lebanon. These include rocket launchers, vehicles with machine guns mounted on them, anti-tank missiles, rifles, and RPG launchers.

The weapons run the gamut from those supplied by Iran to weapons with origins in Russia. Some are old, likely dating back decades, and some were found in boxes, as yet unwrapped by the terrorist group. The IDF has released photos of some of these weapons and also put some of them on display. 

What do some of these weapons tell us?

Iran, Egypt, and Turkey welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon, which came into effect Wednesday morning.

Iran welcomes the ceasefire in Lebanon, the country's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement early on Wednesday. 

In a statement published by its foreign ministry, Egypt stressed "that this step will contribute to the beginning of the de-escalation phase in the region." 

Cyprus is willing to assist in any way possible in helping implement a ceasefire brokered between Lebanon and Israel, its government said on Wednesday.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides spoke by phone with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Wednesday, a statement from the government spokesperson's office said.

"(Christodoulides) expressed the readiness of the Republic of Cyprus to assist in any way requested - taking into account Cyprus's proximity as an EU member state closest to the region and its excellent relations with all parties - both in implementing the ceasefire and any other request," the government spokesperson said in a statement.

"Certain leaders" may be immune from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC), French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday, AFP reported. 

When asked if French authorities would arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he landed in France, Barrot told Franceinfo radio that France "is very committed to international justice and will apply international law."

However, he added that the court's statute "deals with questions of immunity for certain leaders" and that it is "ultimately up to the judicial authorities to decide," AFP reported. 

This is a developing story. 

IDF troops fired warning shots at Hezbollah terrorists who attempted to return to Kfarkela in southern Lebanon, Israel's state broadcaster KAN reported on Wednesday morning. 

Hamas has signaled its readiness for a truce in the Gaza Strip following Israel's signing of a ceasefire with Lebanon, AFP reported on Wednesday morning, citing a Hamas official.