‘I Just Want to Be Back’: Thousands Rush South in Lebanon Under Cease-Fire
April 17, 2026
Stuck in standstill traffic, Lebanese people who had been displaced by fighting expressed a mix of excitement and uncertainty about a pause in Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah.
A fragile, U.S.-brokered cease-fire that took effect at midnight has prompted tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese to rush back to their homes in the country's south. After weeks of intense cross-border fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants, the main highways leading south from Beirut and Mount Lebanon were choked with traffic as families, with possessions piled high on their vehicles, headed home. The 10-day truce temporarily halts a conflict that has killed more than 2,100 people in Lebanon and displaced over a million. The movement south began in the early hours of Friday, with convoys of cars, many with mattresses lashed to the roof, creating severe traffic congestion.
The recent escalation is part of a wider regional conflict that intensified on March 2, 2026, following an earlier war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. After a November 2024 cease-fire was repeatedly violated, Hezbollah launched new rocket attacks against Israel, prompting a punishing Israeli air and ground campaign in southern Lebanon. This offensive has created a severe humanitarian crisis, with about one-fifth of Lebanon's population forced to flee their homes. The United States brokered the current 10-day cessation of hostilities to allow for negotiations toward a more permanent peace agreement.
Despite warnings from the Lebanese army and even Hezbollah about the dangers, the desire to return is overwhelming for many. The journey home is fraught not only with uncertainty about the cease-fire's stability but also with immediate physical dangers. Many are returning to find their homes and villages in ruins, with widespread destruction of infrastructure, including critical bridges over the Litani River that were targeted by Israel. To facilitate the mass return, temporary fixes were installed at some river crossings. Beyond the visible destruction, humanitarian officials have sounded the alarm about the pervasive threat of unexploded ordnance scattered across residential areas.
The stability of the truce remains highly uncertain. The agreement, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, calls for a 10-day pause but does not require Israeli forces to withdraw from the territory they occupy in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have stated their troops will remain in place to monitor Hezbollah activity, while Hezbollah has declared it will keep its "finger on the trigger" against any violations. While Hezbollah was not a formal party to the state-level agreement, President Trump expressed hope the group would abide by the terms. Reports of a deadly Israeli drone strike on the first day of the truce have underscored the fragility of the situation.
For now, the break in fighting has allowed for a massive, spontaneous return, though the long-term outlook is unclear. Many who have returned to check on their property have discovered their homes are destroyed, forcing them to go back to shelters. International aid agencies are mobilizing, but the scale of the destruction and displacement presents an immense challenge. The success of this temporary truce will depend on whether it can be extended and pave the way for a lasting political solution that addresses security on the border and the immense task of reconstruction.
Source: nytimes