Israel is slowly withdrawing from Lebanese villages it occupied, as part of a ceasefire deal. Lebanese residents waiting to return to their villages say the Israeli military has destroyed nearly everything.

The Lebanese army entered two towns Friday in the Tyre district in southern Lebanon following an Israeli withdrawal, according to the Lebanese state news agency, NNA. The development comes barely one day before the deadline for the withdrawal. Israel, however, said earlier that the withdrawal could take longer than the 60-day timeline.

The Israeli military said on Friday that it remained deployed in southern Lebanon while maintaining the terms of the ceasefire deal. The army conducted strikes targeting Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and active observation posts in southern Lebanon over the past few days,

Over the past week, Lebanon gained both a new president and prime minister-designate, raising hopes for a recovery from years of economic collapse and reconstruction after the 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah that ended in a ceasefire late last November.

The White House said Friday that a ceasefire extension is "urgently needed" in Lebanon, adding that it welcomed the Israeli army withdrawal from the country’s central regions. "We are pleased that the Israeli Army has started the withdrawal from the central regions of Lebanon,

Analysts, however, said Salam and Aoun have a unique opportunity. The collapse of the al-Assad regime, a constant meddler in Lebanese affairs, the weakening of Iran and the willingness of the international community to provide foreign aid and backing to Lebanon’s new leaders mean there is support for a reform agenda that wasn’t previously there.

Lebanese volunteers are anxious to get back to sea turtle conservation on southern beaches that were off-limits to civilians when fighting escalated between Israel and Hezbollah.

In a workshop in an infamous refugee camp in Beirut, Palestinian women practice an ancient art form — as a livelihood, and also as therapy. The designs come from a homeland most have never seen.

Israeli occupation forces continue to violate the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, despite the 60-day deadline for the withdrawal of Zionist troops set to expire this Sunday.

Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of Jbal El Botm in the Tyre district, resulting in a fire breaking out in the area.

The Israeli regime has again violated its ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, bringing the total cases of the violations to 455 since the truce took effect 46 days ago.

The 1969 Cairo Agreement granted Palestinians the right to bear arms and launch military operations from southern Lebanon into occupied Palestine to liberate their land, marking the first significant blow to Lebanese sovereignty.