Key facts
- Mahasen Faqih and her husband returned to their village in southern Lebanon as part of a U.S.-brokered 'pilot zones' agreement.
- The deal involves Israeli withdrawal in exchange for Hezbollah disarmament.
- Zawtar al-Gharbieh, one of three pilot zones, has seen only about 15 families return.
- Nearly half of the village's 500 homes are destroyed, with many others damaged.
- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that 24 villages in Lebanon have been destroyed.
- Further technical talks between Lebanon and Israel are scheduled for August 4 in Rome.
Mahasen Faqih and her husband have returned to their village of Zawtar al-Gharbieh in southern Lebanon, sifting through the debris of their home. Their return is part of a U.S.-brokered 'pilot zones' agreement where Israel is to withdraw in exchange for the disarmament of Hezbollah. The couple fled north in early March when the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began.
Faqih described their home as unlivable but vowed to stay, planning to reside in their grocery shop while awaiting demolition and rebuilding. "Zawtar is our small homeland, and we are very happy," Faqih, 58, said. "We will sleep here to tell the Israelis that we will stay in our land and will not leave it, no matter what happens."
According to Mayor Abed Ezzeldine, only about 15 families have returned to Zawtar al-Gharbieh a week after the Lebanese army took control. He stated that nearly half of the village's 500 homes have been destroyed, with many others damaged. Hezbollah is reportedly opposed to the deal and the ongoing direct talks between Lebanon and Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told a TV station that Israeli troops control 700 square kilometers (270 square miles) of southern Lebanon and have destroyed 24 villages and 15,000 to 20,000 houses in Lebanon. He claimed these villages housed Shiites who acted as enemies on behalf of Hezbollah.
Faqih managed to recover only nine plates from her kitchen, with the room and main sitting room severely damaged. An Israeli strike left a hole in her bedroom ceiling. She noted that she had already sold $20,000 in jewelry to repair damage from the 2024 war and can no longer afford repairs, hoping for government assistance.
Mayor Ezzeldine described Zawtar al-Gharbieh as "disaster-stricken," with many standing homes unsuitable for living. The municipality is supplying water via tanker trucks, and he hopes about 100 families will return by the end of the week. Lebanese army bulldozers were clearing debris, and trucks with mounted machine guns were seen near a damaged mosque. An armored personnel carrier blocked a road to the adjacent village of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, which is occupied by Israeli troops.
Technical teams from Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to hold another round of talks in Rome starting August 4. A Lebanese foreign ministry official stated the talks will focus on identifying additional pilot zones for handover. However, Mayor Ezzeldine expressed that the pilot zone is not yet successful, citing the continued presence of Israeli troops nearby and constant drone surveillance. Faqih stated her family does not feel secure and believes it will take years for Israel to withdraw and liberate the south.