Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said on Wednesday his group was cooperating with the army's deployment to southern Lebanon under the terms of a new truce with Israel, insisting "there will be no problem there".

His remarks came as Lebanon's army said it had begun reinforcing its presence in the south, and as tens of thousands of residents streamed home after the sealing of an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire following more than a year of hostilities and two months of all-out war.

Responding to an AFP question about Hezbollah fighters' withdrawal north of the Litani River in accordance with the ceasefire deal, Fadlallah said the matter was "linked to Lebanese state measures and strengthening the army presence".

"There is full cooperation on this issue and there will be no problem there," he said.

The Lebanese military said Wednesday that it had "begun reinforcing its presence in the South Litani sector and extending the state's authority in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)".

An AFP journalist saw army troops and vehicles in two areas of south Lebanon on Wednesday.

Fadlallah went on to say that Hezbollah had "no visible weapons or bases" in the south, but at the same time, noted the group "is a secret resistance... not a regular army".

"Hezbollah's people are the people of these villages and towns, and most of the dead are from these villages," he said.

"Nobody can make residents leave their villages."

Lebanon says at least 3,823 people have been killed in the country since exchanges of cross-border fire began in October 2023, most of them in recent weeks.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the army would shore up its presence in the country's south, while urging Israel to withdraw and respect the ceasefire that came into force on Wednesday. (AFP)
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Last updated: 2024-11-27 HKT 23:11