Key facts
- Southern Lebanese villages, primarily Shiite, have been destroyed by Israeli forces.
Civilians in southern Lebanon face fear and rising sectarian tensions due to Israeli occupation and conflict with Hezbollah. Villages are destroyed, residents are displaced, and inter-community relations are strained as Israel warns against harboring Hezbollah fighters.
The conflict and Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon are creating a humanitarian crisis, displacing thousands and exacerbating sectarian tensions that threaten the fragile stability of the region.
Civilians in southern Lebanon are living in fear and facing rising tensions due to the ongoing conflict and Israeli occupation. Villages, particularly those with Shiite majorities, have been destroyed by Israeli forces battling Hezbollah. Residents have been displaced, with many towns declared off-limits for return. Milia el-Cheikh, a resident of the destroyed village of Dibbine, described the agony of not being able to reach her home.
Jdeidat Marjayoun, a mostly Christian village, is on the edge of the Israeli-occupied zone. While Christian, Sunni, and Druze communities have largely been allowed to remain, their lives have been drastically altered. Their homes have been hit by shelling, road closures have isolated them, and nighttime raids by Israeli troops have instilled fear. The Israeli military has warned these communities against harboring Hezbollah fighters, which has strained relations with displaced Shiite neighbors and exacerbated political and sectarian tensions that have been dormant since Lebanon's civil war.
The conflict escalated after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, prompting an invasion and expansion of Israel's control up to 12 kilometers deep in some areas. Israel has published lists of towns, mostly Shiite, where residents are barred from returning, citing self-defense and Hezbollah's entrenchment in residential areas, including alleged tunnels and military infrastructure. Iran and Hezbollah insist on Israeli withdrawal, while Lebanon's government has also called for it.
In mixed villages like Qlayaa, residents can see the devastated Shiite town of Khiam, now controlled by Israel, but are effectively barred from accessing their own agricultural lands. The mayor of Qlayaa, Hanna Daher, noted that another season of lost crops is a significant blow. The area has seen civilian casualties, with a priest killed by shelling and a father and his two children killed in a drone strike, though Israel states it targets only militants.
Jdeidat Marjayoun has also experienced damage, with a house bombed on suspicion of militant use and rockets damaging a church. Solar panels, power transmitters, and water stations have also been hit. El-Cheikh fled Dibbine in March after an Israeli warning and witnessed Israeli forces raid her village before withdrawing. Lolitta Costantine, a resident of Jdeidat Marjayoun, described hiding in her home during explosions that shattered windows and loosened doors.
The turning away of Shiite refugees seeking shelter has aggravated tensions. A Qlayaa resident reportedly had his house bombed after hosting a Shiite friend, and others have asked Shiites to leave to avoid problems. The municipality of Jdeidat Marjayoun stated on social media that it was forced to ask some displaced individuals to leave due to Israeli warnings that allowing them in could put the town at risk or lead to its evacuation. Father Philip Habib Okla noted that these situations have caused disagreements and tension, emphasizing reliance on faith for unity. The Israeli military confirmed warnings were issued to prevent Hezbollah from using civilian areas, which endangers residents.