Lebanese families return home to find houses destroyed by Israeli strikes

Displaced Lebanese families are streaming back to southern Lebanon following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, but many are finding their communities in ruins.

Imad Komeyha and his family made the 12-hour journey from northern Lebanon back to their village of Kfar Sir in the south. When they arrived, they discovered their house had been completely destroyed in Israeli airstrikes. "My house is demolished," Komeyha said.

Tens of thousands of families are making similar trips across the country, crossing damaged bridges and returning to areas that saw heavy fighting. Many are returning despite ongoing reports of Israeli shelling and demolitions near the southern border.

The ceasefire appears to be mostly holding, though Israel says it has carried out strikes on what it calls "terrorists" approaching its forces. A UN peacekeeper was also killed in the area.

The returns mark the beginning of what will likely be a long rebuilding process for communities across southern Lebanon that were heavily damaged during the conflict.