The Israeli army fired warning shots on vehicles in southern Lebanon on Wednesday after they approached a restricted border area near the village of Kfar Kila, just across from the Israeli town of Metula, with both Israeli and Lebanese militaries urging civilians to refrain from returning to southern villages.

According to the Israeli army, the vehicles drove away after the shots were fired, avoiding further escalation.

Under the reached ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, Israeli troops remain stationed in some areas of southern Lebanon. 

“The Israeli army will act against anyone who attempts to violate the ceasefire agreement and will not allow harm to the security of Israeli residents,” read a statement, adding that the Israeli air force remains prepared to operate across Lebanon and that air defense systems are on high alert.

Col. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, issued a direct warning to Lebanese civilians, asking them not to move towards the villages that the Israeli military evacuated or towards Israeli forces in the area.

"For your protection and the safety of your families, avoid reaching the area,” he said. “We will inform you of the safe date to return to your homes.”

Lebanese Army Prepares for Deployment

The Lebanese army echoed these warnings, urging residents of southern villages to delay their return until Israeli forces have completed their withdrawal, a process expected to unfold over the coming weeks.

“With the ceasefire coming into effect, the army is taking the necessary measures to complete its deployment in the south,” the Lebanese army said in a statement. “The army command calls on citizens to wait before returning to frontline villages and towns that Israeli enemy forces have penetrated, awaiting their withdrawal.”

The Lebanese military is preparing to deploy troops to the south as Israeli soldiers retreat, aiming to restore stability to the region.

Displaced Residents Return Despite Warnings

Despite these pleas, displaced residents of southern Lebanon began streaming back to their villages early Wednesday shortly after the ceasefire agreement had taken effect. In the coastal city of Tyre, scenes of jubilation unfolded as cars and motorcycles packed with returning families arrived. Vehicles piled high with mattresses honked their horns, and sporadic celebratory gunfire echoed at a main roundabout, where residents cheered the end of months of fighting.

Meanwhile, a video purportedly filmed by a Lebanese resident in Kafr Kila showed widespread destruction but no visible presence of Israeli troops.