Ziva (Cote de Pablo) is back in the action in these first-look photos of NCIS Season 17. CBS shared new pics from the upcoming season premiere (airing Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 8/7c), with plenty of glimpses of the fan-favorite character. And based on these images, Ziva and Gibbs (Mark Harmon) are in for some rough times ahead. The duo appear dirty and scraped up, as though they've been involved in some sort of explosion or accident. But hey, we're just happy to have Ziva back from the dead!

Cote de Pablo joined NCIS in 2005 and stayed with the procedural until 2013. It was stated in Season 13 that her character, Ziva David, had died in an explosion. However, in the Season 16 finale, Ziva returned and revealed that she had actually gone into hiding and was only back to warn Gibbs that his life was in danger too.

The Season 17 premiere will find Gibbs learning why she remained underground for so many years, as well as why he's in danger and from whom. It also won't mark de Pablo's only episode this season. The actress will appear in four episodes of Season 17, including the first two of the season. (Her other two episodes will air later in the fall and early winter.)

Check out these images of Ziva in the NCIS premiere below!

NCIS will return Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 8/7c on CBS.

Photo: Erik Voake/CBS

Photo: Erik Voake/CBS

Photo: Michael Yarish/CBS

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