Beirut/Tel Aviv, 17 April 2026 (dpa/MIA) - The Lebanese army said early on Friday that Israel had repeatedly violated the ceasefire that officially took effect at midnight, accusing the Israeli military of shelling several villages in the south of the country.

The army again urged residents not to return to villages and towns in southern Lebanon for the time being. The Israeli military did not initially comment.

After weeks of fighting between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire, which is initially due to last 10 days.

Lebanese security sources said artillery shells landed near the coastal city of Tyre shortly after the truce came into force. A drone also hit a car in Haris in southern Lebanon, the sources said.

The Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia had fired numerous rockets at locations in northern Israel shortly before the ceasefire took effect. Three people were injured by rocket shrapnel, according to emergency responders.

Israel's military said it had then struck the militia's rocket launchers.

The ceasefire was agreed with the Lebanese government, which does not hold power over Hezbollah.

MIA file photo