Israeli army signals long-term presence in Lebanon as displaced families return to devastation
The Israeli army is preparing for a prolonged presence in southern Lebanon despite a US-Iran agreement aimed at ending regional hostilities, according to Israeli media, while thousands of displaced Lebanese returning home are finding widespread destruction after months of conflict.
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed security sources, that the military is “ready to remain in Lebanon for a long period” if instructed by the country’s political leadership. The sources said the army was prepared for “all scenarios in Lebanon,” even as Washington and Tehran move toward formally signing a peace agreement in Switzerland later this week.
The report comes amid continued Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon and ongoing exchanges of fire along the border with northern Israel.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said earlier that the memorandum of understanding reached between the United States and Iran includes commitments to halt military escalation across the region, including in Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said ending the war in Lebanon was “an integral part” of the agreement and would involve an eventual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
Returnees face ruined homes and businesses
Meanwhile, thousands of displaced Lebanese have begun returning to southern villages for a second consecutive day, encouraged by the prospect of broader regional de-escalation.
However, many families have returned to find homes destroyed, businesses ruined and entire neighborhoods heavily damaged by months of Israeli bombardment.
In the Tyre district, residents reported extensive losses to property and livelihoods.
In the village of Shaabiya, a resident identified as Abu Hassan said Israeli strikes had damaged several commercial properties he owned, causing losses worth tens of thousands of dollars.
“People were left alone to face all this destruction,” he said. “We don’t want wars. We want to rebuild our lives.”
He added that many families lacked the financial means to repair homes or restart businesses without compensation.
Another resident, Abu Ali, said the home goods business that had supported his family for two decades was destroyed during the fighting.
“My entire livelihood disappeared overnight,” he said while inspecting the damage. “This was 20 years of work and exhaustion. Today, I have no work left.”
According to preliminary estimates by the private Information International research group, losses from Israel’s latest military campaign in Lebanon have reached at least $5 billion, with final assessments still pending. The group previously estimated total damage from Israeli attacks since October 2023 at around $15 billion.
Hezbollah vows continued resistance
In the southern town of Jouaiya, Hezbollah lawmaker Hussein Jishi visited a civil defense center that had been targeted in an Israeli strike and accused Israel of pursuing a “scorched-earth policy” aimed at imposing control through destruction and intimidation.
“Our land will not remain occupied, and we will continue confronting the occupation until it leaves,” Jishi said.
Despite the growing number of returnees, several towns in southern Lebanon remain under Israeli occupation or are located near military zones where residents are still unable to return.
Previous ceasefire attempts have repeatedly broken down amid accusations of violations, forcing many displaced families to flee multiple times.
Regional tensions remain high
Regional tensions intensified in late February after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran killed more than 3,000 people, according to official figures. Tehran responded with missile strikes on Gulf countries and Israel and imposed restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States and Iran reached a temporary truce on April 8 through Pakistani mediation before announcing a framework agreement to end the conflict. The accord is expected to be formally signed in Switzerland on June 19.
Israel’s military offensive in Lebanon, launched on March 2, has left thousands dead or wounded and displaced more than one million people, according to Lebanese authorities.
Israeli forces continue to occupy areas of southern Lebanon, some held for decades and others seized during previous rounds of fighting. During the current offensive, Israeli troops advanced more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory.
Source:AA
