Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday called on displaced Lebanese to return to their homes across the country, after the ceasefire between Israel and the pro-Iranian Shiite Hezbollah militia came into force.
“We thank the displaced and the people who have welcomed them with compassion and solidarity,” Berri, a Hezbollah ally, said in a televised speech.
Berri negotiated the ceasefire with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein on behalf of Hezbollah.
“Return to your land … even if you live above the rubble,” Berri said.
“We turn the page today on a historical moment that was the most dangerous for Lebanon and threatened its people and history,” he added.
A ceasefire brokered by the United States and France came into force at 4 am (0200 GMT).
According to a draft of the ceasefire which was published by local media, Israeli ground troops are expected to withdraw from Lebanon within 60 days.
In turn, Hezbollah is to withdraw behind the Litani River about 30 kilometres north of the border.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced that residents of certain areas were still prohibited from returning to their villages.
The Israeli army had already fired warning shots in the morning when vehicles carrying suspected Hezbollah members entered the area of Kafr Kila near the border with Israel. (dpa/NAN)
