Motorists drive past a destroyed building in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 27, 2024, after a ceasefire took effect. (Photo by AFP)
Beirut, Lebanon: Thousands of Lebanese displaced by the war between Israel and Hezbollah began the journey back home as a ceasefire took hold on Wednesday, with many celebrating an end to the deadly fighting.
The truce brings to a halt a war that has killed thousands in Lebanon and resulted in mass displacement on both sides of the border.
Traffic on the road from the Lebanese capital to the main southern city of Sidon was congested since the early hours, as thousands of people headed back to their homes.
AFP journalists saw cars and minibuses packed with people carrying mattresses, suitcases and blankets heading south, with some honking and singing in celebration as Hezbollah supporters portrayed the truce as a victory.
"What we feel is indescribable," said one Lebanese driver on the road to the south. "The people have won!"
Final hours
In Lebanon, more than 900,000 people fled their homes in recent weeks, according to the UN, as Israel pounded areas around the country with a focus on areas where Hezbollah holds sway.
Lebanon says at least 3,823 people have been killed in the country since exchanges of fire began in October 2023, most of them in recent weeks.
The final hours before the truce took hold at 4:00 am (0200 GMT) on Wednesday were among the most violent particularly for the capital, Beirut, with Israeli strikes hitting areas including the busy commercial district of Hamra.
Hezbollah too continued to claim attacks on Israel all the way up to the start of the truce.
When the ceasefire began, the Israeli military warned that residents of south Lebanon should not approach military positions and villages its forces had called to be evacuated.
Lebanon's army said it was "taking the necessary measures" to deploy forces south, and called on people not to return to frontline villages until the Israeli military withdraws.
"The army command calls on citizens to wait before returning to frontline villages and towns that Israeli enemy forces have penetrated, awaiting their withdrawal," it said.
Hezbollah backer Iran welcomed the end of Israel's "aggression" in Lebanon, while Hamas said it was ready for a truce of its own in Gaza.
