TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — A truce between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah was showing signs of holding on Wednesday, as vehicles loaded with personal belongings headed back towards southern Lebanon. Despite this, both Israeli and Lebanese authorities cautioned civilians to avoid certain zones.

If this ceasefire endures, it could signal the conclusion of a bitter 14-month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. What started as sporadic clashes in mid-September escalated into a full-blown war, raising fears of a larger regional conflict involving Iran, Hezbollah’s supporter, and Israel.

This pause in violence may provide relief to the 1.2 million Lebanese who were displaced during the fighting, as well as the thousands of Israelis who fled their homes near the border.

“The past two months were brutal and unbearable,” said Mohammed Kaafarani, 59, who fled the Lebanese village of Bidias. “There was simply nowhere left to find safety.”

The deal, brokered by the United States and France and accepted by Israel on Tuesday, stipulates a temporary two-month ceasefire. It mandates Hezbollah to withdraw its armed presence from southern Lebanon while Israeli forces would retreat to their side of the border.

Under the agreement, additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers will be stationed in southern Lebanon, overseen by an international committee led by the U.S. Israel, however, has made it clear that it retains the right to strike Hezbollah if the group breaches the agreement.

Although this truce does not cover the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Israel continues operations against Hamas, President Joe Biden expressed intentions to renew diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire in the region in the coming days.

Lebanese populations head south despite warnings

Just hours before the ceasefire began, Israel conducted intense airstrikes around Beirut, while Hezbollah responded with rockets that set off alarms across northern Israel. Yet once the ceasefire took effect early Wednesday, the region experienced an unexpected calm, leading to waves of displaced Lebanese returning to their homes.

Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson, cautioned displaced Lebanese against returning to villages in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces even fired warning shots at vehicles encroaching on restricted areas.

Similarly, the Lebanese army advised returning citizens to steer clear of frontline areas and border zones still occupied by Israeli troops pending their withdrawal.

Despite the warnings, videos circulating online depict some individuals defying the orders, returning to villages near Tyre. Israeli forces were still present in parts of southern Lebanon following a ground campaign launched in October.

On the highway connecting Beirut to southern Lebanon, streams of returning families packed vehicles with belongings, with mattresses strapped to roofs. Traffic jams choked the northern entrance to Sidon, a key port city en route to the south.

Returning residents are likely to encounter widespread devastation inflicted during Israeli military operations. Several villages were left in ruins as the Israeli army targeted what it described as Hezbollah weapons stockpiles and infrastructure allegedly designed for cross-border attacks like the one on October 7.

Reports from Lebanese health officials confirmed the loss of over 3,760 lives—predominantly civilians—due to Israeli actions during the 13-month conflict.

Hezbollah, while managing to resist Israeli advances, has emerged from the conflict weakened. Its once-formidable reputation, earned in its 2006 clashes with Israel, took a significant hit. The group managed to launch ongoing rocket and drone attacks, slowing Israeli operations, but it did so at a heavy cost.

“This is a moment of pride and triumph for Lebanon and the Shia community,” proclaimed Hussein Sweidan, as he returned to Tyre, viewing the ceasefire as a symbolic victory for Hezbollah. Sporadic celebratory gunfire echoed through Tyre as residents honked car horns and cheered in the streets.

Many Israelis express reservations over the agreement

In Israel, reactions were more tempered. Displaced residents voiced concerns about the truce failing to adequately weaken Hezbollah and its lack of focus on Gaza or hostages held by Hamas.

“It still doesn’t feel safe to go back home,” said Eliyahu Maman, who fled Kiryat Shmona, a northern Israeli city near the Lebanese border heavily hit by rocket attacks during the fighting.

By Wednesday morning, Kiryat Shmona remained subdued under cold, rainy weather. Residents surveyed damage, including a bus with a wrecked roof and a shopping center struck in prior attacks. A rocket remained embedded near an apartment building.

During the war, more than 70 Israelis, the majority civilians, lost their lives. Numerous Israeli soldiers died in combat within southern Lebanon. For communities near the border, returning home may take months due to extensive damage caused by rockets.

Despite this, Israel achieved key milestones in the conflict, including the elimination of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah and other senior figures. Substantial Hezbollah infrastructure was reportedly demolished, and Israeli intelligence displayed a sophisticated ability to infiltrate the organization, allegedly using sabotage tactics like exploding communication devices.

Fears of large-scale rocket barrages from Hezbollah never fully materialized, either due to Israeli airstrikes or Hezbollah’s decision to preserve its weapons. Additionally, the militant group failed to launch significant ground offensives, although Israel claimed evidence of their preparations for such incursions.

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Chehayeb reported from Beirut, while Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Contributions to this report also came from AP journalists Alon Bernstein in Haifa, Israel, and Leo Correa in Kiryat Shmona, Israel.

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