A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has taken effect, aiming to end more than a year of war in Lebanon. As displaced families return home and celebrations erupt in Lebanon’s streets, uncertainty looms over how long the fragile peace will last.
Heavily-laden cars could be seen leaving Beirut in the early hours of Wednesday morning as the ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group came into effect.
They were heading home to the south of the country, which has seen some of the most intensive fighting over the past almost two years of cross-border conflict.
So far the ceasefire, which came into effect at four in the morning local time, has held.
The end to the fighting has brought relief for the Lebanese after days of some of the most intense airstrikes and clashes since the war began.
Thousands of people have been making their way south, defying a warning from the Israeli military to stay away from previously evacuated areas.
Israel has said it will resume attacks if Hezbollah breaks the ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel has been in place for almost a day now, and Lebanese troops have started moving to the south of the country under the terms of the deal.
People are travelling back to towns, villages, and homes they were forcibly displaced from, but Israel’s military has imposed movement restrictions on Lebanese civilians in parts of south Lebanon.
US media are also reporting that President Joe Biden’s administration has provisionally approved new weapons sales to Israel.