Lebanese return to ‘unliveable’ areas as ceasefire with Israel mostly holds

InternationalLebanese return to 'unliveable' areas as ceasefire with Israel mostly holdsBy Reuters -Apr 17, 2026People uprooted by the war in Lebanon began returning to devastated ​towns and neighbourhoods on Friday, with many finding their homes destroyed or uninhabitable and hesitant to stay for fear a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel could unravel. U.S. President Donald ‌Trump announced the 10-day ceasefire agreement between the governments of Lebanon and Israel on Thursday, adding to optimism that the parallel war between the United States and Iran could be nearing an end. While Trump says Lebanon and Israel will work towards a longer-term deal, the ceasefire leaves big questions. Notably, it does not demand Israel withdraw troops occupying parts of the south, where Israel’s defence minister said Israeli troops would continue to demolish homes he claimed were being ​used by Hezbollah. Iran-backed Hezbollah, which operates independently of the Lebanese state, says it maintains “the right to resist”. SCARED TO RETURN In the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, hills of rubble stood where ​there had once been apartment blocks and the smell of death hung in the air. Ali Hamza said he found his home intact, but ⁠that people were scared to return for now. “It is impossible to live in these circumstances, and with these smells. A full return is difficult now, despite the hardship of displacement”. He had gathered ​school books from the house: “We lost everything; we don’t want them to lose the school year.” In Qasmiyeh in southern Lebanon, cars were driving across a makeshift crossing over the Litani River, hastily erected ​after the ceasefire came into effect at midnight local time (2100 GMT). Israel destroyed all the bridges over the Litani during the war, blowing up the one at Qasmiyeh on Thursday. Lebanon was dragged to war on March 2, when Hezbollah opened fire at Israel in support of Iran, sparking an Israeli offensive that authorities...