Families return to shattered towns as fragile ceasefire holds in Lebanon

Lead

Thousands of displaced Lebanese have begun returning to their homes in southern Lebanon after a US-Iran agreement aimed at ending the war, but they are met with widespread destruction, ongoing Israeli occupation, and deep uncertainty about whether the fragile ceasefire will hold.

The deal, signed by US President Donald Trump and Iran in France, opened a 60-day negotiation process and was seen by many as a signal to end the fighting that has devastated Lebanon since March 2. Although neither Israel nor Hezbollah is a party to the agreement, residents in Tyre and other areas expressed hope that it could reduce violence, according to Africa News.

Coverage comparison

Reporting across outlets paints a consistent picture of a massive return movement, but with varying emphasis on the scale of the destruction, the number of casualties, and the extent of Israeli occupation.

Al Jazeera reported that at least 3,783 people have been killed and 11,699 wounded in Lebanon since Israel launched its war on March 2, and that 1.2 million people were forced to flee their homes. The outlet also stated that Israel continues to occupy nearly 20 percent of Lebanon, citing refusal to withdraw from the south. In a separate report, Al Jazeera gave a higher death toll of 4,257 killed and more than 12,000 wounded, and described Israel as occupying about 6 percent of Lebanese territory.

Dawn reported over 3,900 killed and 1.2 million displaced, while The Guardian cited nearly 3,800 deaths. The BBC — World reported that an estimated 50,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed, and that one million people remain displaced, most of them Shia Muslims. Al Jazeera’s report from the field noted that the war has left thousands of homes and shops destroyed, dozens of villages occupied and flattened, and more than a million people displaced.

Key claims

• Displacement and return: More than 1.2 million Lebanese were forced to flee their homes, according to Al Jazeera and Dawn. Following the ceasefire announcement, thousands have begun returning, with long lines of vehicles carrying families and belongings heading south, as reported by Al Jazeera and Africa News.

• Israeli occupation and warnings: Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, with estimates ranging from 6 percent (Al Jazeera) to nearly 20 percent (Al Jazeera’s other report). The Israeli military has ordered Shiite-majority communities to be emptied, accusing residents of supporting Hezbollah, while allowing Christian, Sunni, and other residents to remain, according to Africa News. Israel’s government says its forces will remain indefinitely in occupied parts of southern Lebanon, as reported by the BBC — World and The Guardian.

• Hezbollah and Iran’s stance: Hezbollah said it would not allow Israel to continue carrying out airstrikes in the south, according to The Guardian. Iran warned that any Israeli attack on Lebanon or continued occupation of its territory will constitute a violation of the interim agreement, as reported by Al Jazeera.

• Ceasefire fragility: Despite the truce, Israel and Hezbollah have carried out attacks over the past day, according to the BBC — World. Residents returning to villages have encountered Israeli armoured vehicles and unexploded ordnance, with some areas still occupied.

Perspectives

Residents

Returning residents express a mix of hope and fear. Abed Hachem, whose village of Qlaileh was destroyed, told Dawn: “The whole village is destroyed. My house is destroyed. The village is destroyed. Where are we supposed to go now?” Ghia Hajo, displaced from Abbasieh, recounted to The Guardian: “How many times has this happened before? I have mixed feelings, there’s joy, I’m excited. But there’s a fear in the back of my head that won’t go away.” Others, like Moustafa returning to Aadshit, voiced distrust of Israel: “Israel can’t be trusted.”

Israel

Israel’s government says its forces will remain in occupied parts of southern Lebanon, and the defence minister stated troops will not withdraw from the ‘security zone,’ according to the BBC — World and The Guardian. Israel claims its campaign was aimed at Hezbollah’s forces and military infrastructure, as reported by Dawn.

Hezbollah

Hezbollah has said it will not allow Israel to continue airstrikes in the south, according to The Guardian.

Iran

Iran has warned that any Israeli attack on Lebanon or continued occupation will violate the US-Iran interim agreement, as reported by Al Jazeera.