Against the odds, peace in Lebanon seems to be holding. There have been violations, including the Israeli commando raid in the Beka'a valley on August 19. According to Kofi Annan, the United Nations secretary-general, there has been little visible activity by Hizbollah militias in the south of the country.

On the whole, Mr Annan says in his report to the Security Council yesterday, "the parties seem determined to uphold the agreement" set out by the UN in resolution 1701. By the weekend the UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon should have reached 5,000 personnel, at which time the understanding is that the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) will go home.