Celebratory gunfire, fireworks, and victory signs: People return to Lebanon after ceasefire with Israel

Fireworks lit up the sky over Beirut on Friday (April 17) as celebratory gunfire rang out following Israel’s agreement to a 10-day ceasefire with Lebanon.

Israel and Lebanon will implement a 10-day ceasefire beginning 5 pm EST (2100 GMT) on Thursday (April 16) to enable negotiations toward a permanent security and peace agreement, the U.S. State Department said, adding that the ceasefire period may be extended by mutual agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement he had agreed to the 10-day pause and that there was an opportunity to make an historic deal with Lebanon.

But there was uncertainty over whether a truce could hold between bitter enemies Israel and Hezbollah. Netanyahu said in his video message he had not agreed to Hezbollah's demand to withdraw forces deployed in southern Lebanon back to the international border between the two countries and would maintain an extensive "security zone" up to the border with Syria.

Once the ceasefire takes effect, the Lebanese government will take steps to prevent Hezbollah and all other non-state armed groups in its territory from carrying out any attacks against Israel, according to the text of the ceasefire agreement released by the U.S. State Department.

Israeli attacks have killed more than 2,100 people in Lebanon since March 2 and forced more than 1.2 million to flee, Lebanese authorities say. Hezbollah attacks have killed two ⁠Israeli civilians, while 13 Israeli soldiers have died in Lebanon since March 2, Israel says.

-Production: Ahmed Badawi, Bernat Parera/Reuters

A girl holding a balloon shows victory sign from a vehicle as displaced people make their way back to their home crossing the bridge linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country, which was hit earlier in an Israeli strike, after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in Qasmiyeh, Lebanon, April 17, 2026. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki

People drive by as displaced people make their way to return to their homes after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, at the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, April 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

Vehicles drive past damaged buildings as displaced people make their way to return to their homes after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, at the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, April 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir