Lebanese armed forces were deploying to several more villages in southern Lebanon on Monday, shortly after an announcement that a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was being extended until February 18.
Lebanese forces partially re-entered the towns of Mais al Jabal and Houla, located along the southern demarcation line with neighbouring Israel.
Lines of cars and people carrying yellow Hezbollah flags were seen waiting at the entrance of the western sector of south Lebanon to enter their villages, accompanied by the Lebanese army.
“We are overjoyed that we can enter our villages despite the massive destruction,” one returnee told dpa.
“My son was killed here; I want to see if he was properly buried,” said another man.
A large portion of the population in southern Lebanon are supporters of the Hezbollah militia or its allied Amal movement.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), tens of thousands of residents have returned to the south and other areas in Lebanon since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in November.
However, many towns near the border remain deserted due to the continued presence of Israeli troops.
Under the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese army is tasked with securing the southern part of the country.
Hezbollah meanwhile is required to retreat north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometres from the southern border.
One killed, seven injured on Monday
The White House announced on Sunday that the ceasefire agreement was extended until February 18.
Tensions had once again been rising after a deadline expired for Israeli troops to withdraw from Lebanon as part of the deal.
Israeli military spokesman Avichai Adraee stated on the platform X that Israeli forces needed more time to ensure that “Hezbollah cannot restore its military presence.”
At least one person was killed and seven others were injured on Monday when Israeli forces opened fire on Lebanese villagers attempting to return to their homes as part of the ceasefire agreement, according to Lebanese security sources.
One person was killed in the border town of Adaissah, according to the Health Ministry.
The Israeli military said that it was checking the reports.
At the weekend 24 people were killed when residents tried to return to their homes in the south despite Israeli troops still being stationed there.
Ceasefire is ‘victory’ for Hezbollah, leader says
In a first statement from the group since the extension, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Monday described the ceasefire with Israel as a “victory” for his militia.
Israel asked for the ceasefire and Hezbollah accepted it together with the Lebanese state, and this is a “victory,” Qassem said in a televised speech.
“This is an opportunity for the [Lebanese] state to fulfil its duties and test its capabilities at the political level,” he added.
The Shiite militia has been significantly weakened by more than a year of fighting with Israel and it likely had little choice but to agree to a ceasefire.
Qassem admitted that Hezbollah has suffered serious setbacks in the war with Israel in recent months, including the killing of secretary general Hassan Nasrallah and other high-ranking leaders.
Lebanese supporters of pro-Iranian Hezbollah throw rice at a Lebanese army jeep as it drives by in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil. Israeli troops opened fire on villagers returning home killing 15 people, including a Lebanese soldier, and injuring more than 80. Residents of south Lebanon, who were displaced during the war, tried to return to their villages still occupied by Israel despite the expiration of the 60-day ceasefire implementation period. Marwan Naamani/dpa
