Welcome to the NewsHour. The ceasefire between the Israeli and Lebanese governments,

and including the militant group Hezbollah that went into effect early this morning, appears to be holding.

And for the first time in nearly 14 months, residents on both sides of the border are heading back to their homes rather than running from bombs.

Nick Schiffren speaks to the American negotiator who helped secure the deal, but first, he reports on the situation on the ground today.

Today in southern Lebanon, a rare and precious feeling, hope.

Families displaced by 14 months of war rushed to return home.

And Lebanese soldiers rushed to the country's borders the first step to implementing the ceasefire.

In Hezbollah's stronghold in southern Beirut, a celebration amidst destruction.

They say the U.S. designated terrorist group ended the war

with victory. But at great cost. The U.N. says Israeli airstrikes damaged or destroyed

nearly 25,000 homes.

I have no other place to stay, so I'm forced to do this. We say that as long as we are safe, everything can be compensated.

On the Israeli side of the border, soldiers today patrolled through areas no longer under

rocket fire.

And inside Lebanon, Israeli commanders planned to withdraw, also claiming a form of victory,

having killed most of Hezbollah's

leadership and removed Hezbollah's weapons as recently as last night from near the border.

But for the more than 60,000 Israelis who fled their homes last October, some have nothing

to return to. And they feel skeptical the ceasefire can hold.

We are afraid that Hezbollah will start again to build forces.

The agreement calls for Israel's withdrawal and the Lebanese armed forces

deployment to conclude within 60 days, alongside Hezbollah moving its fighters north of the

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