BEIRUT: Lebanese citizens displaced by months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah are now beginning to return to their homes in the southern regions, after a ceasefire agreement came into effect early Wednesday morning.
For many, the return to their villages is bittersweet, as they find their homes and communities devastated by the extensive bombardment and cross-border strikes that had plagued the area for over a year. Some towns and villages have been left unrecognizable or completely destroyed by Israel’s military actions during the conflict.
Hussein Sweidan, a resident returning to the southern port city of Tyre, expressed a sense of pride and resilience, saying, “This is a moment of victory, pride and honor for us, the Shiite sect, and for all of Lebanon.”
However, for others, the situation remains tense. Hussam Arrout, a father of four, said his family is still cautious while waiting for Israel’s complete withdrawal from Lebanon. “We decided to wait until the army announces that we can go in. Then we’ll turn the cars on immediately and go to the village,” he told Reuters.
Meanwhile, some displaced children, like a girl from Sidon, are torn between returning home and the emotional bonds they’ve formed in new places. “I made friends here and now we have to be separated to go back to the south – I don’t want to leave them, we cried a lot. They are like sisters to me now,” she said, reflecting the deep personal challenges of displacement.
As the ceasefire holds, families in the south are now facing the dual challenge of rebuilding their homes and reuniting with loved ones, while also navigating the emotional toll of leaving behind places where they sought refuge.
