Army, Berri and Hezbollah tell citizens not to return south until truce starts

The Lebanese Army on Thursday urged people not to return to the country's southern villages and towns before a ceasefire with Israel takes effect at midnight local time (2100 GMT), and warned against approaching Israeli forces there.

In a statement, the Army Command also called on citizens to heed instructions of Lebanese soldiers deployed in the south, where Israeli troops have invaded across the border, and to beware of unexploded ordnance and "suspicious objects."

Hezbollah for its part called on residents to postpone their return to the country's south, the Bekaa valley, and Beirut's southern suburbs.

"In the face of a treacherous enemy accustomed to violating covenants and agreements, we call on you to be patient and to refrain from heading to the targeted areas in the south, the Bekaa, and Beirut's southern suburbs, until the situation becomes completely clear," the group said in a statement.

The Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee, in a statement, also advised people to wait "until you are certain that a ceasefire has been officially declared and has come into effect" and urged people to "wait until morning" before taking to the roads.

Speaker Nabih Berri had earlier urged residents to postpone heading to towns and villages "until the situation becomes clearer in accordance with the ceasefire agreement."