Thousands of displaced residents began returning to their homes on Friday after bulldozers reopened a key bridge in southern Lebanon, which had been damaged in Israeli strikes shortly before a ceasefire came into effect.
Large crowds gathered near the Qasmiyeh bridge, waiting to cross after the vital link over the Litani River was restored. The bridge had been bombed during recent hostilities, cutting off southern areas from the rest of the country.
Many families, forced to flee during the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, described long waits and uncertainty as they prepared to return to towns and villages across the south. Traffic stretched for kilometres as vehicles carrying mattresses, kitchenware, and essential belongings moved slowly toward their destinations.
The ceasefire, which came into effect after weeks of intense fighting, allowed displaced civilians to begin returning despite warnings from various authorities. Residents expressed relief at going back, even as many remained unsure about the condition of their homes after extensive destruction.
Some returnees described determination to rebuild their lives even if their houses were damaged or destroyed, saying they would stay on their land regardless of the conditions. Others criticized the hardship of displacement, saying they had received little assistance during weeks of conflict.
Infrastructure damage, including the destruction of several bridges over the Litani River, had severely restricted movement in the region during the war, which left thousands dead and displaced over a million people, according to Lebanese authorities.
As bulldozers cleared the damaged route, convoys of vehicles began moving south, marking the first major wave of returns following the ceasefire agreement.
