'We Will Rebuild,' says Beirut resident of southern suburbs after ceasefire

Residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs began the difficult task of cleaning up the streets on Friday, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect earlier in the week.

The ceasefire, brokered by the United States and France, came into force on Wednesday morning, ending one of the deadliest confrontations between the two sides in years.

As traffic flowed past damaged buildings, piles of rubble and debris remained in the areas hit hardest. Many shops, homes, and businesses had been damaged, leaving a visible reminder of the conflict's toll.

One local shop owner, whose property had been damaged during the fighting, expressed optimism about the future, saying that residents would rebuild and restore their area, even better than before. He also praised the Hezbollah fighters who died on the frontlines in southern Lebanon, reflecting the strong support for the militant group in the community.

Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high. On Friday, an Israeli military spokesperson stated that Lebanese residents were prohibited from moving south to a line of villages and surrounding areas until further notice. Israel claimed it had opened fire on Thursday, at what it called "suspects" in vehicles arriving in several areas of the southern zone, accusing them of breaching the truce. In response, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement, adding to the already fragile situation.

The exchange of accusations highlighted the delicate nature of the ceasefire, which is set to last for 60 days in the hope of reaching a permanent cessation of hostilities between the two sides.

The truce has thus far brought a temporary pause in the fighting, but it remains uncertain whether it will hold long enough to bring lasting peace to the region.

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