Thousands of displaced Lebanese civilians began returning to their homes in southern Lebanon on Friday as a fragile 10-day ceasefire with Israel took effect at midnight, despite warnings from authorities and reports of early violations.
Long queues of families traversed the bomb-damaged Qasmiyeh bridge near Tyre after bulldozers restored the crossing, allowing access to areas devastated by more than a month of Israeli bombardment. The Lebanese army had reopened the bridge to facilitate movement while repositioning forces throughout the south to accompany returning residents.
The truce, brokered under pressure from US President Donald Trump, represents a potential breakthrough in Washington's broader efforts to reach an agreement ending its war with Iran. Tehran had insisted that halting the Lebanon fighting must be part of any deal.
People just couldn't wait. Even if it's 10 days, they want to return to their homes. Some of them are just coming to see what remains of their homes, what remains of their lives.
Zeina Khodr, Al Jazeera correspondent — Al Jazeera
However, the ceasefire faced immediate challenges. Lebanon's army accused Israel of several violations on Friday, including intermittent shelling of southern villages. In Majdal Selm, unexploded ordnance left by Israeli forces killed a boy, while rescuers uncovered bodies of at least a dozen people killed in earlier attacks in Tyre.
France 24 emphasizes the humanitarian angle of displaced civilians returning home while highlighting French diplomatic concerns about ceasefire violations. The outlet frames this as part of broader regional stability efforts where France plays a mediating role, particularly given Macron's public warnings about ongoing military operations threatening the truce.