Displaced Lebanese return as Israeli shelling violates ceasefire in south

Beirut, Lebanon – Tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese families are returning home despite ongoing reports of Israeli shelling and demolitions of homes near the country’s southern border.

Cars loaded with mattresses, bags and salvaged belongings continued streaming south on Saturday as families went back to see if their homes remained. “There’s destruction and it’s unliveable. We’re taking our things and leaving again,” said Fadel Badreddine, displaced from Nabatieh.

“May God grant us relief and end this whole thing permanently – not temporarily – so we can return to our homes and livelihoods.”

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. “I came to check on my house and take a few things,” said Samia Lawand, a resident of Beirut’s southern suburbs.

“I found it badly damaged. It was hit in the previous war and again in this one.”

Ongoing Israeli attacks

A 10-day ceasefire took effect on Thursday night, raising hopes of a pause after 46 days of intensified Israeli attacks. But uncertainty remains amid widespread destruction and Israeli warnings against returning to parts of southern Lebanon.

Amid the fragile ceasefire, Al Jazeera correspondents on the ground reported that Israeli bulldozers were continuing 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.

During the war, Israeli forces launched a ground invasion several kilometres into Lebanese territory. Israeli officials now say Israel will remain in control of 55 towns and villages.

Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng said Israel had established what it describes as a “yellow line” security zone, in some places extending up to 10km (6.2 miles) from the border.

“That allows it to control a line of antitank fire, meaning it can bring in heavy artillery and heavy armour into Lebanon,” Cheng said.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the area between the security zone and the Litani River had not yet been cleared of fighters and “weapons”.

“This will have to be done through diplomatic means or continued Israeli military activity after the ceasefire,” he said.

Talks likely

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.