Some south Lebanon residents have cautiously headed back to their hometowns on Sunday after fighting paused between Israel and Hezbollah the previous evening, even as Lebanon’s army warns locals to delay returns.

In the southern city of Nabatieh, AFP correspondents have seen just a few residents trickling back to inspect homes and businesses.

Mohammad Salloum said he had come back briefly to check on his shop but would return to the city of Sidon further north, where he has taken refuge.

“Nabatieh is disaster-stricken,” he tells AFP while inspecting the damage. But “God willing, the city will return to life within two or three months”.

Lebanon’s army on Sunday emphasised “the need for residents to delay their return to southern border villages and towns” and to comply with army instructions “to preserve their safety from the danger of Israeli violations and attacks”.