U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein shuttled repeatedly to Beirut and Jerusalem despite the ructions of an election at home to secure a deal that required help from France -- and that was nearly derailed by international arrest warrants for Israel's leaders.

Twisted rebar poked out of piles of rubble and broken masonry. "These buildings can be rebuilt. They’re not important. But our loved ones, friends, neighbours, companions, people. The homeland has been destroyed,

Israel and Lebanon traded accusations of violating a cease-fire deal that’s brought more than a year of fighting to a halt, though the truce with Hezbollah appeared to be holding.

Israel said it had targeted militants headed to a rocket facility, but neither Israel nor Hezbollah seemed keen to immediately return to full-scale fighting.

A cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah has brought calm to the countries’ border area, though reactions were varied from the many thousands displaced by the conflict on both sides.