Displaced Lebanese civilians began reopening roads and bridges destroyed by Israeli strikes to return to their homes, hours after a pause in Israeli bombing came into effect at midnight. The return began almost immediately after the ten-day ceasefire came at 12am Thursday-Friday, with families leaving shelters overnight and heading south in large numbers, after being forced from their homes following Israel's invasion last month. Roads linking Beirut to southern Lebanon were quickly overwhelmed, with traffic stretching for kilometres from the outskirts of Sidon to crossings over the Litani River.

With key infrastructure damaged or destroyed, residents worked alongside the Lebanese army, local government workers, and volunteers to restore access routes that had been cut off by Israel's bombardment of civilian infrastructure in the south. Around the Qasmiyeh crossing, a critical artery linking areas south of the Litani, a bridge struck hours before the ceasefire was made partially passable by filling craters and reopening a single narrow lane, allowing the displaced to cross one vehicle at a time. As congestion worsened, additional passageways were cleared to ease the bottleneck, while further south alternative crossings were reopened, enabling residents to bypass the worst of the traffic and continue toward villages in the Tyre district.

In several areas, movement resumed before repairs were complete, with cars and motorbikes crossing as soon as routes became partially usable. The scale of the return created severe delays, with many families spending hours in their vehicles waiting to pass through damaged routes, but continuing nonetheless. Despite the challenges, it was still markedly less difficult than their initial displacement, weeks earlier, as residents returned to towns they had not seen in over a month, some unsure whether their homes remained standing or farms remained intact.

Some have stayed behind in rented accommodation or temporary accommodation, due to the destruction of their homes amid a backdrop of huge insecurity, given the fragility of the 10-day ceasefire. Israeli strikes intensified in the hours leading up to the ceasefire, including raids on the Sidon district on Thursday that killed at least 14 people and injured dozens more, according to Lebanese media. Bombardment continued until the final moments before the truce took effect.

Israeli forces also remain deployed across multiple positions inside southern Lebanon following the ceasefire, with the full extent of their presence in the country still unclear. Regional reporting indicates that troops are positioned along the coastal axis from Naqoura northwards toward Bayyada and Shamaa, in some areas extending several kilometres into Lebanese territory and occupying elevated ground overlooking the Tyre coastline. Several nearby villages remain exposed to Israeli fire or lie close to areas of military activity, including Majdal Zoun, Mansouri and Kounine, prompting local authorities to urge residents to delay returning to homes there despite the ceasefire.

Israel has also warned civilians not to move south of the Litani River. It is not known if Israel plans to roll back its invasion, with reports indicating it may seek to create a buffer zone within Lebanese territory in the south. The Lebanese army has called on residents to exercise caution and follow military instructions when returning, particularly in areas affected by unexploded ordnance and ongoing military activity. The ceasefire, announced by US President Donald Trump, is set to last for ten days, though its durability remains uncertain, with reports that Israel is already violating the agreement.