Thousands of displaced people have started to return to some localities in the south as the Lebanese army has begun reopening roads and bridges damaged by the strikes.
Published on April 20, 2026 at 11:32, Reading time: 2min
/2026/04/20/69e5f251d560c056182959.jpg "Israeli army warns Lebanese against returning to south despite ceasefire")
Caption: An Israeli soldier patrols the border with Lebanon on April 10, 2026. (JALAA MAREY / AFP)
The Israeli army has warned Lebanese civilians against returning to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon on Monday, April 20, stating that Hezbollah’s activities in the area were a violation of the ceasefire. Since the ceasefire between Israel and the pro-Iranian Islamist movement went into effect on Friday, thousands of displaced people have started to return to some localities in the south, and the Lebanese army has begun reopening roads and bridges damaged by the strikes. However, the Israeli army issued a new warning.
“The Hezbollah continued its terrorist activities during the ceasefire, in violation of the agreement. Consequently, Israeli forces remain deployed in the defense zone,” said the army’s Arabic-speaking spokesperson, Avichay Adraee. “For your safety and that of your families, and until further notice, we urge you not to go south of the advanced defense line,” he added, referring to a line delimiting an area occupied by Israeli troops.
On Saturday, a Hezbollah official also urged residents to be cautious, warning them against prematurely returning to the south. Israeli Defense Minister Israël Katz specified on Sunday that the army had been ordered to use “all its might” against any threat in Lebanon, even during the ceasefire. He also stated that Israel would demolish houses suspected of being used by the pro-Iranian movement, as official Lebanese media report ongoing demolitions.
