Lebanese Civilians Return Amid Fragile Ceasefire

Over one million Lebanese civilians have been displaced by recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with many now cautiously returning to their homes under a fragile 10-day ceasefire. The ceasefire, announced on Thursday, has allowed some displaced families to return to southern Lebanon after six weeks of intense fighting that began in early March.

According to Lebanese authorities, more than one million people have been forced from their homes since the conflict escalated last month. Many are returning to find extensive damage and destruction, with tens of thousands unable to go back as their homes lie in ruins or areas still held by Israeli forces. The Halabi family was among those who returned to Tyre, a major historic city in southern Lebanon, where they found their apartment decorated with photographs of the family and Hezbollah leaders.

However, not everyone is eager to return. Kodor Mouzannar, 62, from the southern village of Souaneh, has been living in a blue tarpaulin tent in Beirut's Camille Chamoun Stadium. Despite longing to go home, he expressed distrust in Israel's commitment to the ceasefire and fears that bombing will resume.

The Lebanese army has reported several early violations of the ceasefire by Israeli forces, including intermittent shelling of southern villages. Despite these incidents, many displaced civilians are determined to return to their homes and show that they do not want to give up their lands. The fragile truce has raised hopes for a lasting peace in the region.

A preliminary assessment by Lebanese authorities conducted before the truce found that nearly 40,000 homes had been destroyed or damaged. Beirut’s southern suburbs were among the worst-hit areas, followed by districts across southern Lebanon. Israeli bulldozers have continued demolition and land-clearing operations in several areas of southern Lebanon, while Israeli artillery also shelled areas around Beit Lif, al-Qantara and Toul.

Residents living closest to the border with Israel have largely been unable to return, while others have faced delays after Israeli attacks damaged bridges linking areas south of the Litani River with the rest of Lebanon. Rare face-to-face talks between Lebanon and Israel are expected to resume in the coming days, though both sides appear to have sharply different priorities.

In a recent incident, two ambulances were destroyed by Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, killing four paramedics and wounding six others. The attacks drew condemnation from the United Nations' human rights office, which warned that intentionally targeting medics constituted a war crime. The Lebanese Health Ministry has recorded at least 100 medical workers killed since Israel launched its bombing campaign and ground invasion in retaliation for Hezbollah firing missiles across the border on March 2.

The attacks on ambulances have highlighted the broader impact of the conflict on Lebanon's health sector, with dozens of paramedics from various groups being killed. The main Islamic Health Committee clinic in Jibsheet was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike last month, one of 59 primary health care centers shuttered due to Israeli attacks.

At the center of the dispute is what Israel calls a “Yellow Line” – a military zone stretching roughly 10km (6 miles) north of the border inside southern Lebanon. Israeli officials say they intend to keep the zone under military control, while reserving the right to strike the area in what they describe as efforts to root out Hezbollah.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces “are remaining in Lebanon in a reinforced security buffer zone”. The line has drawn comparisons with Gaza, where Israel has partitioned Palestinian territory into separate zones. In Gaza, Israeli troops routinely fire on anyone approaching the line and have demolished hundreds of homes in the effective buffer zone.

Senior Israeli military officials stated that residents will not be allowed to return to 55 Lebanese towns and villages within that area. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the Israeli military “will continue to hold and control all the positions it has cleared and secured”.