Some residents of southern Lebanon began heading back to their hometowns early Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week pause in strikes on Iran, even as officials made clear the truce does not extend to Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the ceasefire does not apply to Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hezbollah, with Israeli strikes continuing across southern Lebanon.

Traffic quickly clogged the main southern highway, as cars streamed toward Zahrani, Tyre, Nabatieh, and villages in the Bint Jbeil District. The movement began shortly after news of the ceasefire broke, despite repeated appeals for residents to wait for an official Lebanese announcement before returning.

A correspondent for Lebanon’s National News Agency in Tyre described the returns as cautious and limited, warning that conditions remain dangerous amid ongoing Israeli attacks.

The Lebanese Armed Forces urged civilians to delay returning to southern villages and towns and to stay away from areas where Israeli forces have advanced.

“In light of regional developments and reports of a ceasefire, the army command calls on citizens to refrain from returning to southern villages and towns and to avoid approaching areas where Israeli forces have advanced, in order to preserve their safety,” the military said in a statement. “They may otherwise expose their lives to the danger of ongoing Israeli attacks.”

The army also warned of unexploded ordnance and suspicious objects left behind by Israeli bombardment, urging residents to report any hazards to the nearest military or security post and to follow instructions from deployed units.

Similar guidance was issued by the central operations room of the Disaster Management Unit, which called on civilians to avoid areas still exposed to shelling and to comply with directions from security authorities.

The Amal Movement also urged displaced residents to remain in safe locations until an official ceasefire declaration covering Lebanon is issued.

Emergency responders, including civil defense teams from the Islamic Health Authority and the Risala Scout Association, echoed those warnings, calling on civilians to refrain from returning south while Israeli strikes continue and until Lebanese authorities formally declare an end to hostilities.