Returning residents in southern Lebanon are confronting widespread destruction after the latest military exchanges between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, finding their homes and villages reduced to rubble.
Abed Hachem, a father of three, described his shock and despair upon returning to Qlaileh, a village on the outskirts of Tyre, to find his home and the surrounding community obliterated by recent Israeli strikes. He had previously rebuilt his house after conflict in 2024, only to face complete devastation this time.
The current conflict escalated on March 2, when Hezbollah launched attacks into Israel in solidarity with its ally, Iran, drawing Lebanon into the regional hostilities. Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground incursion that led to the occupation of parts of southern Lebanon. This sustained military action has resulted in over 3,900 fatalities and displaced 1.2 million people, with Israeli evacuation orders emptying numerous villages.
Israel has stated that its operations are targeting Hezbollah's military infrastructure and personnel. However, residents like Hachem are now grappling with the immense personal cost, witnessing the obliteration of their communities and a lifetime of work.
"The whole village is destroyed. My house is destroyed. The village is destroyed. Where are we supposed to go now?" Hachem lamented. He also recounted the tragic loss of a neighbor and his son, emphasizing their uninvolvement in political or military activities.
A temporary reprieve in hostilities, facilitated by an interim deal between the United States and Iran, had allowed displaced individuals like Hachem to return. However, fighting resumed before a new ceasefire was established on Friday afternoon. Hachem expressed a profound wish for peace to have been achieved earlier, stating, "This agreement they reached, they should have made it from the very beginning, not after people were destroyed."
