Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire holds as some people move back to south Lebanon — as it happened
By Luke Cooper
By Esther Linder
By Basel Hindeleh
Topic:Unrest, Conflict and War
Lebanese people who have been displaced for weeks started to move back south as a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah held.
The ceasefire took effect at 4am local time (1pm AEDT), hours after US President Joe Biden announced a deal had been reached and fighting intensified in the lead up.
Just after it started, the Israeli military warned against any civilians moving around until it said it was safe.
Look back at our live blog to see how the ceasefire unfolded.
Key Events
Lebanon army preparing to go south
Lebanese arrive in Tyre
In pictures: Lebanese joyous as they buy essentials and return south
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Live updates
That's all for today
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By Basel Hindeleh
We will end our live coverage of the Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire here.
The ceasefire has held strong for the past four hours with no signs of violations so far since it came into effect at 4am local time (1pm AEDT).
Some displaced Lebanese are making their way back to southern Lebanon from cities like Sidon while others have arrived in Tyre.
There were scenes of joy and with many also expressing support for Hezbollah.
The agreed upon terms of the ceasefire are expected to unfold within the next 60 days, including the full withdrawal of the Israel military from southern Lebanon and the deployment of Lebanese Army.
You can read through the blog to see how the ceasefire announcement, the hours leading up to the deadline and the time since unfolded.
Or take a look at what the ceasefire means and what the fighting beforehand achieved for Israel.
And you can stay up to date with the latest in our article below and by downloading the ABC News app.
Thank you for joining us.
Key EventLebanon army preparing to go south
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By Basel Hindeleh
Lebanon's army says it is preparing to deploy to the south of the country.
That was part of the ceasefire agreement which will see it regain control of the area which has been a Hezbollah stronghold.
The army also asked in a statement that residents of border villages delay returning home until the Israeli military withdraws.
Israel's troops are still present in the south and should withdraw within the next 60 days.
BBy Basel Hindeleh
As Lebanese people flood the streets and some return to the south, many are waving Hezbollah flags, carrying photos of the late leader Hassan Nasrallah, and expressing support for the movement.
Expert: Ceasefire was needed and will likely hold
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By Basel Hindeleh
Rami Khouri, a senior fellow at the American University of Beirut, says the ceasefire was very much needed and will likely hold for days and weeks.
However, he says, it remains to be seen whether the fighting will resume because of the underlying tensions which caused this flare up in the conflict.
"This has been the pattern for the past 30 years or so," he said.
"We have to really look to the international monitors who are going to play a new role here more than the UN forces.
"The US and France are mentioned, others might join.
"[They] could really do a big service to everybody in the region and the world by being decisive and making sure both sides apply the terms of the agreement and that they as big powers, unlike in the past, that they treat both sides equally; the Palestinians, the Lebanese, the Israelis must all be treated with equal rights.
"And if this happens, better days may be ahead."
He said while the ceasefire devastated Hezbollah, the group is still an active capable force.
And that Israel was worried about the unprecedented capability of rockets reaching Tel Aviv.
Key Event"Otherwise the Israelis wouldn't accept a ceasefire," he said.
"The fact of Israel accepting the ceasefire is probably the most politically significant aspect of this conflict right now.
"Because Israel has the total support of the US, has massive military capabilities, and sophisticated ones as we saw with their electronic warfare and intelligence penetration. So, they could have just kept on fighting."
"But they couldn't keep fighting because Hezbollah in the south, on the ground, and through its missiles and drones, was attacking back and hurting Israel in different ways."
Lebanese arrive in Tyre
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By Basel Hindeleh
Lebanese people have started to arrive in Tyre, in southern Lebanon.
There were scenes of joy and happiness, with people driving into the town.
Strikes before ceasefire killed six Syrians
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By Basel Hindeleh
In the hours leading up to the start of the ceasefire, we reported Israeli air strikes targeted Lebanon's three northern border crossings with Syria for the first time, according to Lebanon's transport minister Ali Hamieh.
The strikes came moments after US President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire
Mr Hamieh told Reuters it was not immediately clear whether the roads had been cut off as a result of the strikes. Israeli raids on Lebanon's eastern crossings in recent weeks had already sealed off those routes into Syria.
Syria's state news agency also reported four civilians and two soldiers were killed, and 12 people were wounded including children, women and workers in the Syrian Red Crescent.
The Red Crescent said earlier a volunteer was killed and another was injured in "the aggression that targeted Al-Dabousyeh and Al-Arida crossings … as they were performing their humanitarian duty of rescuing the wounded early on Wednesday."
The strike damaged several ambulances and work points, it added in a statement.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment. It has previously stated that it targets what it says are Iran-linked sites in Syria as part of a broader campaign to curb the influence of Iran and its ally Hezbollah in the region.
Reporting with Reuters
Iran welcomes ceasefire
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By Basel Hindeleh
Iran has welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon, the country's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement.
Reuters
Key EventIn pictures: Lebanese joyous as they buy essentials and return south
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By Basel Hindeleh
Lebanese people are driving back to the south after weeks of displacement from Israeli strikes.
On their way, some are stopping in Sidon to buy essentials including bread and water.
Calmness in Beirut after a night of heavy bombing
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By Basel Hindeleh
Several plumes of smoke are still rising in Beirut's southern area of Dahieh after a night of heavy bombardment by Israel, live feeds show.
The BBC is also reporting that Israeli drones are still flying in many areas of Lebanon, but noting this appears to have been part of the final ceasefire agreement.
Key EventTwo hours into ceasefire
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By Basel Hindeleh
It's the break of dawn in Lebanon and the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel is entering its third hour.
So far, there has been no signs of violations from either side.
Bursts of gunfire could be heard across Beirut after the ceasefire took effect. However, it was not immediately clear if the shooting was celebratory, as gunfire had also been used to alert residents who may have missed evacuation warnings issued by Israel's military.
Streams of cars began heading to southern Lebanon after the ceasefire, according to Reuters witnesses.
The ceasefire promises to end a the conflict across the Israeli-Lebanese border that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war last year.
Within the next 60 days the Israeli military must fully withdraw from southern Lebanon allowing for the Lebanese Army to deploy its troops.
This will also allow for Israeli citizens to be safely returned to the north of Israel.
Reporting with Reuters
Key EventStreams of cars driving south
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By Basel Hindeleh
Streams of cars carrying people displaced from southern Lebanon by Israeli strikes in recent months are heading south.
Reuters reporters saw dozens of cars leaving the port city of Sidon south of Beirut around 4am local time, (1pm AEDT) and heading deeper into southern Lebanon.
Skies are calm
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By Basel Hindeleh
As dawn approaches in Lebanon, the skies are free of missiles and fighter jets.
People are driving back to the south
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By Basel Hindeleh
Displaced Lebanese are making their way back to their homes in the south from Beirut.
Road barriers are being removed in Dahieh, in Beirut's south, to allow people to move around, Al Jazeera is reporting.
It added celebratory gunshots are ringing out as people mark the ceasefire.
People are also driving south from Lebanon's southern coastal city Sidon, Reuters has reported.
The Israeli military earlier issued a warning against people moving back, saying it will tell them when is safe to do so with the IDF maintaining its presence.
Key EventOne hour into ceasefire
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By Basel Hindeleh
It's now 5am in Lebanon and Israel and the ceasefire is holding.
ANALYSIS: Netanyahu got what he wanted
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By Basel Hindeleh
A ceasefire, which appears to be holding so far, is an obvious relief to the Lebanese people and most likely to both Hezbollah and Iran.
But what's happened in Lebanon since September has given Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a lot of what he wanted.
Yet, he is not claiming victory and now a bigger and more dangerous conflict looms.
These are three major things Israel has achieved with its devastating response to the Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks that have pulled Lebanon into the Gaza war.
No reports of air strikes
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By Basel Hindeleh
No reports of any air strikes being launched from either side so far across the Israel-Lebanon border.
A warning siren was set off in southern Israel in Sufa, a kibbutz near the Gaza Strip, the IDF said, before adding it was a "false identification."
Key EventHezbollah: Residents returning to south 'heads held high'
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By Basel Hindeleh
Hezbollah has issued a short statement 15 minutes after the ceasefire deadline saying residents have started to return to the south.
"The crawl towards the south and the Bekaa has begun, with heads held high."
It then thanked people who took in the millions who were displaced.
Key Event"At the moment of ceasefire, a heartfelt thanks to those who embraced the people of the South, the Bekaa, and the people of Dahiyah.
"Thank you across the country, and all political and sectarian spectrums without exception, and you were an indispensable support."
"Thank you from us, the people of the South and the Bekaa."
IDF warns Lebanese to not return yet
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By Basel Hindeleh
The IDF's Arabic spokesman Avichay Adraree has issued a warning minutes after the deadline, warning Lebanese civilians against returning to southern Lebanon.
"The IDF remains deployed in its positions inside southern Lebanon," his post in Arabic on X said.
"For your safety and the safety of your family members, refrain from moving to the area.
"We will inform you of the safe date to return."
Other regional media is reporting some displaced Lebanese have begun returning to their towns and villages in the south.
Under the ceasefire agreement the IDF will take 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon and for the Lebanese Army to deploy its troops.
10 minutes in … ceasefire seems to be holding
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By Basel Hindeleh
The world is watching Israel and Lebanon to see if the ceasefire with Hezbollah which began at 4am, local time, will hold or break.
Local media is reporting some gunshots were heard being fired in southern Beirut, but the fighter jets heard before 4am are no longer around.
Live stream footage of Tel Aviv and Dahiyeh in Beirut show no signs of either side launching air strikes.
Key EventCeasefire is set to begin as deadline reached
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By Luke Cooper
It's now 4am in Lebanon, which means hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah must stop for the ceasefire to take effect.
Here is what we know about what should happen from now:
- The ceasefire should be fully implemented over the next 60 days.
- During that time, the Lebanese army will deploy 5,000 soldiers to southern Lebanon.
- Hezbollah will end its armed presence south of the Litani River.
- None of Hezbollah's existing infrastructure will be rebuilt.
- The Israeli military will gradually withdraw its remaining soldiers from southern Lebanon within the 60 days.
- US troops will not be deployed to southern Lebanon to enforce the ceasefire.
- Tens of thousands of civilians will be able to safely return to their homes in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
- The United States will aim to work with other nations to begin brokering a potential ceasefire, similar to this one in Lebanon, but between Israel and the terror group Hamas in Gaza.
Here's a closer look at the ceasefire deal and what it entails:
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