Amidst a climate of joy and optimism over the ceasefire agreement announced late Tuesday night between Hezbollah and Israel, thousands of displaced Lebanese since early morning are gathering their meager possessions and returning to their homes, both in the northern suburbs of Damascus and in the south of the country.

The main highway from Beirut to the south is jammed with thousands of cars full of families, suitcases and mattresses.

Displaced Lebanese residents are returning to their homes despite warnings from the Israeli and Lebanese army not to return immediately, as their troop movements will take time and it is not yet safe to return.

In fact, this morning, a few hours after the start of the ceasefire, Israeli forces opened fire in Lebanon targeting convoys of vehicles to prevent them from reaching a restricted area. The vehicles left the area after the Israeli fire.

Nevertheless, more and more displaced people from the south are making their way back to their towns and villages, not knowing if they will find their homes standing.

Lebanon displaced

According to the UN, the war has forced about 900,000 Lebanese citizens to flee their homes while according to Lebanese authorities, at least 3,823 people have died since October 2023, the vast majority since the end of September.

See photos of the mass return of displaced Lebanese to their homes:

Lebanon displaced

Lebanon displaced

Lebanon displaced

Lebanon displaced

Lebanon displaced

Lebanon displaced

Lebanon displaced