In the early hours following the announcement of a US‑Iran truce, displaced families in southern Lebanon began returning to their villages, despite authorities warning that the region remained unsafe.
Video footage shared online shows residents traveling by car only to find an Israeli armoured vehicle blocking a street, underscoring the fragile calm.
Even as the fighting between Israel and the Iranian‑backed Hezbollah ebbed, many residents like Abo Ali of Jebchit and Moustafa of Aadshit remain wary: “Israel can’t be trusted.”
The truce, never publicly released, is said to include a ceasefire in Lebanon – a demand that had halted previous negotiations, according to Iranian and Pakistani mediators.
Israel insists it will maintain an indefinite presence in the occupied 5% of Lebanese territory, citing a “security zone” aim, while Hezbollah’s weaponry remains a contentious issue for Lebanese authorities.
With over 3,800 casualties, a million displaced, and the last 2024 ceasefire failing to bring lasting peace, the Lebanese population remains sceptical of any new agreement.
