BEIRUT — Lebanese villagers began returning to their homes in southern Lebanon this week after a reduction in hostilities, only to find extensive damage caused by recent Israeli strikes, residents and local officials said. The returns followed a ceasefire announced on Friday after days of renewed fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.
Residents arriving in villages near the southern city of Tyre and in parts of the Nabatieh region found collapsed buildings, damaged infrastructure and neighborhoods strewn with rubble, according to accounts from residents and reporting by Reuters and other news organizations. Many families had been displaced for months as the conflict intensified earlier this year.
Abed Hachem, a resident of the village of Qlaileh, told Reuters that he returned to find his home destroyed. “Everything is gone,” he said, describing the scale of the damage in his community. Reuters reported that some residents had previously rebuilt homes damaged during earlier rounds of fighting, only to see them destroyed again during the latest escalation.
The recent escalation followed months of cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Israeli forces carried out airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah launched attacks into northern Israel, according to statements from both sides. The fighting displaced large numbers of civilians and damaged homes, roads and public facilities across parts of southern Lebanon.
Lebanese authorities and humanitarian organizations have urged caution as residents return. The Lebanese army warned that some areas may still contain unexploded ordnance and damaged infrastructure, while local officials said assessments of the destruction are continuing. Details remain unclear regarding the full extent of the damage in several villages.
Israeli officials have said military operations targeted Hezbollah positions and were intended to address security threats along the border. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has described its actions as part of its confrontation with Israel and has accused Israel of causing widespread destruction in civilian areas.
Despite the ceasefire, violence has not ended entirely. Lebanese state media reported that Israeli strikes and shelling continued in parts of southern Lebanon on Saturday, causing additional casualties and damage. Israeli authorities had not immediately commented on all reported incidents.
As of Saturday, residents continued returning to affected communities to inspect homes and recover belongings. Local authorities said damage assessments and relief efforts were ongoing while the ceasefire remained in place.
