Residents return home to southern Lebanon, Beirut suburbs after ceasefire begins

BEIRUT, April 17 (YPA) – Roads leading to southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs were heavily congested as residents began returning to their towns and villages on Friday, following the implementation of a 10-day ceasefire that took effect at midnight.

According to media reports, the peak of return movement began about an hour after the ceasefire was announced. Buses transporting residents to villages in the Nabatieh region and its surroundings have been operating continuously since the early hours of dawn.

Since the ceasefire took effect, the Lebanese Army has been working to open new routes to facilitate civilian movement after Israeli strikes destroyed key bridges over the Litani River in an apparent effort to isolate the region.

Returning residents have been crossing into areas south of the Litani after army engineering units reopened the Qasmiyeh Bridge, which had been damaged during the Israeli aggression.

In Beirut’s southern suburbs, residents also began returning home in the early morning hours. The first hours following the ceasefire witnessed spontaneous public celebrations, with cars driving through the streets of the capital.

The escalation of Israeli aggression on Lebanon began on March 2, 2026. Over the course of 46 days, Hezbollah carried out operations targeting Israeli settlements, military sites, barracks, and other positions, particularly in northern occupied Palestine.

@E.Y.M