Arsal 24-Hour Ceasefire Agreement

  • Country/entity
    Lebanon
    Syria
  • Region
    Middle East and North Africa
    Middle East and North Africa
  • Agreement name
    Arsal 24-Hour Ceasefire Agreement
  • Date
    5 Aug 2014
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Intrastate/local conflict ( Syrian Conflicts (1948 - ) (1976 - 2005) (2011 - ) )
  • Stage
    Ceasefire/related
  • Conflict nature
    Government
  • Peace process
    Syrian Local Agreements
  • Parties
    Syrian rebels (Islamist), Lebanese Armed Forces
  • Third parties
    -
  • Description
    A 24-hour humanitarian ceasefire following fighting between Syrian factions and Lebanese Armed Forces allowing for the evacuation of civilians and wounded. Implementation managed by a joint committee of 'Syrian jurists' and Arsal inhabitants. Ceasefire broken in less than 24 hours.

Local agreement properties

  • Process type
    Isolated example
  • Rationale
    -> Link to national level; no external support mechanism; no culture of signing The clashes in Arsal opposed the Lebanese army on the one side to fighters of Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State from neighbouring Syria on the other side. The two Salafi-Jihadist groups have been active in Lebanon in the bordering area (especially Arsal) and in the northern city of Tripoli. Lebanon has dealt with those insurgents via its army and refused to “negotiate” with those “terrorist” groups. Only in December 2015, in a once-off instance, Lebanon agreed to swap prisoners with Jabhat al-Nusra. There is thus no persistent practice of signing agreements in Lebanon at that time. Moreover, the agreement was reached at the level of the city of Arsal on the initiative of an imam. No national established mechanism supported the negotiations.
  • Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
    No
  • Link to national process: articulated rationale
    The agreement does not contain any reference to a wider peace process at the national level, as the Lebanese state representatives refused to negotiate with insurgent groups. We can also debate the existence of a national peace process in Lebanon (unless it is directly linked to the civil war, which is not the case here). Yet, it is noteworthy to note that the agreement was approved by several Lebanese state officials: Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi, Interior Minister Nihad al-Mashnouq, and army chief Jean Kahwagi. There was thus official national support for the agreement.
  • Name of Locale
    Arsal
  • Nature Of Locale
    City
  • GPS Lat/Long (DD)
    34.179095, 36.420674
  • Participant type
    Central state actor
    International or transnational actor
  • Mediator, facilitator or similar
    Mediator or similar referred to
    Mediator (references)
    Sheikh Salem al-Rafii, Sunni imam of the al-Taqwa mosque (Tripoli), reached the agreement with the insurgent fighters after he was wounded by gunfire. The agreement was then submitted to the Lebanese army for approval or rejection. The name of the Sheikh is not mentioned in the agreement.
    Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
    Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder

Local issues

  • Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

    No specific mention.

  • Grievance List
    Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it lists five provisions to address local grievances.

    Page 1,
    1. Form a Committee consisting of the people of Arsal [ʿArsāl] and some Syrian jurists to manage Arsal, stay updated on the security situation and ensure the implementation of this initiative under the supervision of the Lebanese Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (LIFE) and the Muslim Scholars Association.
    2. All warring parties are obliged to withdraw from Arsal and hand over the area to the Committee.
    3. As a gesture of goodwill, the fighters will release three Lebanese soldiers in return for the entry of media bodies and humanitarian relief organisations.
    4. The wounded will be transported [out] and civilians are permitted to leave, particularly women and children. Under the supervision of the Arsal Committee, doctors will be brought in to treat those who cannot be moved.
    5. Permit the delivery of food, medical and humanitarian aid to the town of Arsal.
  • Cattle rustling/banditry

    No specific mention.

  • Social cover

    No specific mention.

Arsal 24-Hour Ceasefire Agreement

5 August 2014

1. Form a Committee consisting of the people of Arsal [ʿArsāl] and some Syrian jurists to manage Arsal, stay updated on the security situation and ensure the implementation of this initiative under the supervision of the Lebanese Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (LIFE) and the Muslim Scholars Association.

2. All warring parties are obliged to withdraw from Arsal and hand over the area to the Committee.

3. As a gesture of goodwill, the fighters will release three Lebanese soldiers in return for the entry of media bodies and humanitarian relief organisations.

4. The wounded will be transported [out] and civilians are permitted to leave, particularly women and children.

Under the supervision of the Arsal Committee, doctors will be brought in to treat those who cannot be moved,.

5. Permit the delivery of food, medical and humanitarian aid to the town of Arsal.