Early reactions to the ceasefire in Lebanon were chaotic, with celebrations in the capital and a large number returning to the south over the Litani river, despite Israeli and Lebanese warnings to the contrary.
After fragile ceasefire took effect at midnight April 16-17, celebratory small arms and RPG fire was reported throughout the southern suburbs of Beirut resulting in the death of at least one person in Tayouneh due to a stray bullet.
The Lebanese army called on restraint, insisting that civilian fire must stop, deploying personnel and vehicles to the southern suburbs, and ultimately arresting nine for the reckless behavior.
The army also instructed citizens to “delay returning to southern villages and towns in light of a number of violations of the agreement,” citing artillery fire on border towns. According to the U.S. State Department text of the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli army reserves the right to act pre-emptively in self defense if it believes there is an “imminent or ongoing” attack on Israeli forces or territory.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz similarly warned, "if the fighting resumes, those residents who return to the security zone will have to be evacuated to allow completion of the mission," saying that the military would continue to hold positions in southern Lebanon, citing ongoing activities by Hezbollah in the area.
Videos circulating online showed hundreds of cars returning back to the south despite the warnings, crossing over partially destroyed bridges over the Litani river including the Tayr-Felsay and Qasmiyeh bridges.
The Lebanese army has announced the start of reconstruction on the damaged bridge of Qasmiyeh, an important crossing on the coastal highway between the southern towns of Tyre and Sidon.
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