TYRE, Lebanon — Residents across southern Lebanon began returning to their homes on Thursday following the announcement of a U.S.-Iran agreement aimed at ending conflicts across the Middle East, but many found devastation, uncertainty and continuing security concerns awaiting them.
The agreement announced this week includes provisions intended to end the war in Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group has displaced large numbers of civilians and caused widespread destruction. However, questions remain about how the arrangement will be implemented because neither Israel nor Hezbollah is a direct party to the agreement.
For many Lebanese families, hopes for stability are tempered by the reality of damaged homes, ongoing violence and uncertainty about when normal life can resume.
Residents Confront Destruction After Returning
Adnan Kaour returned Thursday to the southern coastal city of Tyre to inspect his apartment overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, only days after Israeli authorities issued evacuation warnings for residents ahead of airstrikes targeting what Israel said were Hezbollah positions.
Kaour said he found his family apartment heavily damaged, with large sections reduced to rubble and windows shattered.
“I’m hopeful for peace, and God willing this is the end of the war, and everyone can go back to their homes,” Kaour said. “We are living abroad, but our minds are here in our country.”
Kaour, who resides in Germany but spends much of the summer in Lebanon, said he was relieved his family was not present when strikes hit the area.
Nearby, residents worked to clear debris from damaged buildings and streets.
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One of Kaour’s neighbors, Samih Haidar, returned to discover extensive destruction inside his apartment, including broken furniture, shattered glass and fire damage in the kitchen.
“We want things to work out and live in safety, so there can be stability for us and everyone else,” Haidar said.
Ceasefire Questions Remain Unresolved
The U.S.-Iran agreement has generated cautious optimism in Lebanon, but key issues remain unresolved.
Iran has called for a full Israeli withdrawal from areas of southern Lebanon currently under Israeli control. However, the reported terms of the interim agreement do not explicitly require such a withdrawal and instead refer to preserving Lebanon’s territorial integrity.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israeli forces would remain in a security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as security considerations require.
Meanwhile, Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, said the group remained committed to the ceasefire provided Israel fully adheres to its terms.
Hezbollah has previously stated that it will continue resisting any Israeli military presence in Lebanese territory.
Border Communities Hope for Stability
In the Christian border village of Ain Ebel, one of the few communities where residents remained throughout much of the conflict, local residents expressed frustration with years of recurring instability.
Although the village has largely avoided the widespread destruction experienced in neighboring areas, residents have faced isolation due to military activity and road restrictions.
On Thursday, a humanitarian convoy organized by the Order of Malta delivered emergency agricultural supplies and livestock feed to local farmers.
Cattle farmer Boutros Maroun said residents were exhausted by repeated cycles of conflict.
“We don’t care about America and Iran, we want the Lebanese people to live comfortably and happily,” Maroun said. “Every two years there’s a new war, and we can no longer take it.”
The convoy’s return trip to Beirut was delayed after explosives discovered on a roadway required removal by United Nations peacekeepers.
Fighting Continues Despite Diplomatic Efforts
Although violence decreased in some areas, clashes and attacks continued on Thursday.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported several Israeli drone strikes, including one targeting a vehicle in the town of Kfar Tebnit that reportedly killed one person and critically wounded another.
Hezbollah later said its fighters had clashed with Israeli forces attempting to advance toward the town. Israeli authorities did not immediately comment on the claims.
Farther north in Beirut, displaced families continued living in temporary shelters along the city’s waterfront.
Many said they remained skeptical that the latest diplomatic efforts would produce lasting peace or allow them to return home soon.
“I haven’t felt relieved at all,” said Mohammed Ashmar, who was displaced from the border village of Deir Seryan. “Until I get back to my home … I won’t be convinced of anything.”
Reconstruction Challenges Loom
According to Lebanese officials, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has displaced more than one million people and killed more than 3,900 individuals in Lebanon.
Israeli authorities say approximately 30 Israeli soldiers and a defense contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon during the conflict, along with two civilians in northern Israel.
During a meeting with foreign dignitaries on Thursday, Haneen Sayed said Lebanon faces immediate humanitarian challenges as well as the long-term task of rebuilding damaged communities and helping displaced families return home.
“The Lebanese people deserve peace,” Sayed said. “They deserve to return safely to their homes, rebuild their communities, and look to the future with confidence and hope.”
Tags: Lebanon, Israel, Hezbollah, U.S.-Iran Agreement, Tyre, Displacement, Ceasefire, Middle East Conflict
