Thousands of Lebanese displaced by the war between Israel and Hezbollah militants returned home on Wednesday as a ceasefire took hold, driving cars stacked with personal belongings and defying warnings from Lebanese and Israeli troops to stay away from some areas.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday celebrated the acceptance of a ceasefire deal brokered by the United States to end the "devastating conflict" between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah after more than a year of fighting.