Lebanon’s South Faces Harsh Realities as 400,000 Families Return to Rebuild Amid Ongoing Conflict
TYRE, Lebanon: In the coastal city of Tyre, the war has subsided just enough for children to play in the waves and families to gather under parasols. However, beyond the beachfront, residents returning after months of exile confront harsh new realities. The ongoing threat of renewed conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah looms large, alongside the daunting task of rebuilding from the devastation caused by Israeli airstrikes.
Local resident Ali Skaiky noted that many are returning to Tyre to rebuild their lives, with restaurants reopening and the community slowly coming back to life. Despite the semblance of normalcy, he acknowledged that distant strikes and fighting can still be heard at night. Skaiky is among approximately 400,000 individuals who have returned to southern Lebanon in the weeks following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. While the truce has not completely halted hostilities, it has reduced their intensity.
Returnees are engaged in clearing debris from damaged homes and reopening businesses, striving to restore the routines that the conflict disrupted. For many, however, a sense of normalcy now involves keeping a suitcase packed, obsessively following the news, and staying close to home.
Fadlallah Qassim, 42, faced the grim reality of returning to a house that had been severely damaged. He described finding his home caved in with rubble and all the furniture ruined. After cleaning and making basic repairs, he and his family now live in a single room.
In the nearby village of Srifa, where entire neighborhoods have been devastated, Suzan Fakih, 55, expressed the emotional toll of returning to a place that no longer feels like home. She remarked that the village now appears black and grey, a stark contrast to the vibrant community she once knew.
The Shadow of Conflict
Srifa is situated in southern Lebanon, close to an area occupied by Israeli troops who regularly target what they claim are Hezbollah positions. The ongoing violence has left approximately 600,000 people internally displaced, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Social Affairs. Many families whose homes were destroyed are still residing in schools or rented accommodations they sought refuge in during the conflict.
The current situation in Lebanon is a consequence of the regional war ignited by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. The conflict escalated on March 2, when Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in support of Tehran, prompting an Israeli air and ground campaign. The Lebanese health ministry reports that over 4,300 individuals have lost their lives as a result of the violence.
Living with Uncertainty
About 20 miles (32 km) north, residents in the Bekaa Valley town of Sohmor, including Mohammad Sweid, share similar uncertainties. Sweid continues to pay rent for the house his family fled to during the war, keeping it as a backup in case they need to evacuate again. He expressed concern that if conflict erupts once more, they may struggle to find alternative housing.
In Beirut, particularly in the Hezbollah-controlled suburb of Dahiyeh, residents are cautiously attempting to rebuild their lives. Moussa Ghamloush, 68, is in the process of repairing his bomb-damaged home and reopening his restaurant, which was completely destroyed in a separate strike. Despite the challenges, he remains committed to his roots in Dahiyeh, stating that he and his family will stay, even if a third war occurs.
The situation in southern Lebanon remains precarious, with the specter of renewed conflict casting a long shadow over the efforts of families striving to rebuild their lives.
Source: www.zawya.com
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Published on 2026-07-07 08:05:00 • By the Editorial Desk
