Lebanon Urges Displaced Residents to Delay Return After US-Iran Deal

Beirut-Lebanese authorities on Monday warned people displaced by months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah not to return home immediately despite a US-Iran agreement aimed at ending the wider regional conflict.

Officials said Lebanon had not been informed of the details or timeline of the agreement, which includes a call for military operations to end across multiple fronts.

An official source said Lebanon was not aware of the specific terms of the ceasefire arrangement, while few details of the deal had been made public.

The conflict’s spillover into Lebanon has caused widespread displacement, with around 1.2 million people forced from their homes during the Israeli offensive against Hezbollah.

Municipal authorities in southern Lebanon urged residents to postpone returns, citing continued uncertainty over security conditions. Israel has said it will not withdraw troops from parts of southern Lebanon.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would maintain security zones in southern Lebanon, Gaza and Syria, and warned that Israel would respond to any attacks linked to Iran.

Lebanon’s conflict escalated after Hezbollah began attacks against Israel in support of Tehran, drawing a major military response and causing extensive damage in southern areas.

The US-Iran agreement was announced after more than three months of conflict. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a mediator between Washington and Tehran, said the deal called for an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.

In southern Lebanon, displaced residents expressed caution about returning. Some said they feared security conditions remained uncertain despite the diplomatic breakthrough.

The agreement’s implementation and further negotiations are expected to determine whether displaced communities can safely return to their homes.