Hezbollah has vowed to continue its resistance to Israel after the ceasefire came into effect.
Brokered by the US and France, the halt to fighting in Lebanon will see both Israeli and Hezbollah forces retreat.
Its announcement was met by cheers on the streets of Lebanon, where people quickly began taking to the roads, streaming back to the war-ravaged south of the country.
Cars and vans piled high with belongings snaked through parts of Lebanon, heading south.
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Thousands return home in Lebanon
In its first statement since the ceasefire, the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah made no direct mention of it and vowed to continue resistance.
Hezbollah said its fighters “remain fully equipped to deal with the aspirations and assaults of the Israeli enemy”.
It added its forces would monitor Israel’s withdrawal “with their hands on the trigger”.
While Hezbollah issued a strong statement, the group has been weakened by Israel, who have targeted its leadership and struck notable blows against it.
‘Ray of hope’
The ceasefire was a rare diplomatic win in a region that has been racked by intensified conflicts over the last 14 months.
It ended the deadliest confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah in years, but didn’t address fighting, or worries over humanitarian issues, in the Gaza Strip.
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres described the truce as “the first ray of hope” in months as leaders across the world welcomed it.
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Queues of traffic in Beirut’s southern suburbs after the ceasefire deal was announced. Pic: Reuters
Asya Atwi stands on rubble near her destroyed home in Zibqin, southern Lebanon.
Pic: Reuters
In the southern Lebanese village of Zibqin, Asya Atwi returned to her ruined home with her husband and daughter.
“The important thing is that we’re back, against Israel’s will and against the will of all the enemies,” she said. “We came back to our hometown, and we will sleep on the rubble.”
‘Let’s hope for the best’
The conflict across the Israeli-Lebanon border has claimed more than 3,760 lives – the vast majority Lebanese – and displaced more than one million people.
Israel has said its military aim fighting in Lebanon was to secure the return of 60,000 Israelis who fled communities in the country’s north.
Asor Gal’it, returning to the Israeli border town of Metula, said on Wednesday she heard some shots when she arrived home.
“We were a little afraid, but we trust our army and let’s see what happens. Let’s hope for the best,” she said.
Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon.
Pic: AP
As Israel pulls out of Lebanon, Hezbollah will pull back north of the Litani River which is about 30km (20 miles) from the border and the Lebanese army will deploy to the area.
In the hours leading up to the ceasefire, Israel conducted waves of attacks on Lebanon.
‘Heading towards famine again’
While the ceasefire has brought a cessation of violence in Lebanon, fighting remains ongoing in Gaza where Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas.
President Joe Biden said his administration was also pushing for an elusive ceasefire deal in the enclave which is “heading towards famine again” a charity chief told Sky News.
Deputy executive director of The World Food Programme Carl Saku told The World with Yalda Hakim that he was “extremely worried about the situation in Gaza”.
He said: “We are heading towards famine again.
“In June and July we’d managed to stabilise the situation and there was access to basic food commodities but in the last six to eight weeks there has been a massive deterioration.
“In the north it’s due to the resumption of the fighting and evacuation orders and in the south it is due to a complete breakdown of law and order.”