Lebanese Families Return to Ruins After Ceasefire Agreement

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Lebanese Families Return to Ruins After Ceasefire Agreement \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ In the aftermath of a U.S.-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanese families are returning to devastated homes in the south. Israeli airstrikes destroyed neighborhoods, displacing nearly 1.2 million people and causing billions in damage. Families like Mariam Kourani’s and Ali Saleh’s face the challenge of rebuilding amid staggering losses, uncertainty about reconstruction aid, and profound grief for loved ones lost in the conflict.

Lebanon Ceasefire Aftermath: Homes Lost, Lives Shattered

Ceasefire Brings Return: Families displaced by Israeli airstrikes are revisiting their homes, many reduced to rubble.
Mass Displacement: Nearly 1.2 million people were forced to flee during the conflict, which leveled entire neighborhoods.
Housing Devastation: Over 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, with reconstruction costs estimated at $3.2 billion.
Personal Losses: Families like Mariam Kourani’s lost not just homes but businesses and dreams.
Historical Sites Damaged: Areas like UNESCO-listed Baalbek suffered destruction, further amplifying the cultural loss.
Reconstruction Uncertainty: While Hezbollah and Iran offer support, funding remains unclear amid economic sanctions.

Deep Look

The U.S.-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has brought a brief respite to Lebanon, but for families returning to their homes, the devastation is overwhelming. Months of relentless Israeli airstrikes have left southern Lebanon, the eastern region, and parts of Beirut in ruins, displacing nearly 1.2 million people and causing damage estimated at $3.2 billion.

For residents like Mariam Kourani, the ceasefire is only the beginning of a long journey to rebuild shattered lives.

Dreams Reduced to Rubble

Mariam Kourani, 56, returned to her village of Hanouiyeh after weeks of displacement, only to find her home and restaurant destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in late September. Walking through the debris, Kourani and her family salvaged fragments of their lives, including some of her granddaughter’s clothes and toys.

“This was my house, my dreams, and my hard work,” Kourani said, her voice breaking. The family estimates their total losses at $120,000, a devastating blow after years of running a butcher shop, a serving container business, and a small restaurant.

With her home gone, Kourani’s immediate priority is reopening their butcher shop across the street to regain some financial stability. “We are starting from below zero,” she said.

Mass Displacement and Devastation

The scale of destruction is staggering. Nearly 100,000 homes were partially or completely destroyed, with southern Lebanon, Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut, and the eastern city of Baalbek among the hardest-hit areas. Entire neighborhoods lie in ruins, forcing families to navigate grief and financial hardship simultaneously.

In Baalbek, 34-year-old Souad al-Outa returned to what was left of her family home, shocked by the devastation. Strikes earlier this month had killed multiple people on her street, including relatives of her husband. “I feel like my heart has come out of its place,” she said, staring at the remnants of her children’s bedroom.

A History of Loss

For some, the latest destruction feels like history repeating itself. Ali Saleh, 59, drove to his village near the Israeli border to find that his two-story home had been obliterated. This was the second time Saleh has lost his home to conflict; in 2006, during the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah, his house was destroyed.

“All the memories are gone,” Saleh said, as he surveyed the rubble with his wife and children. His village, Aita al-Shaab, bore the brunt of intense fighting, leaving him and many others searching for shelter nearby. “It is a disaster-stricken village,” he added, mourning the loss of his home and community.

Rebuilding Amid Uncertainty

The World Bank estimates $3.2 billion in housing damage, but who will finance the reconstruction remains unclear. Iran, a staunch ally of Hezbollah, has offered support, but Western sanctions and its own economic struggles complicate its ability to help. Hezbollah has promised temporary housing for displaced families and pledged to assist with rebuilding, but resources may be stretched thin.

Kourani and her family spent two months in Qarnayel, Mount Lebanon, paying $1,250 monthly for rent, electricity, and water. Their return to Hanouiyeh was bittersweet, as the sight of their ruined home underscored the challenges ahead.

Cultural Losses and Resilience

The destruction extended beyond homes to historical landmarks. In Baalbek, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its Roman ruins, entire neighborhoods were leveled. This cultural devastation compounds the sense of loss for residents who take pride in their heritage.

Yet, resilience remains a common thread among survivors. In the village of Qana, near Tyre, Abu Ahmad Salameh surveyed the ruins of multiple family homes, pulling two carpets from the rubble. “All this damage can be rebuilt,” he said. “This is our land, and we will stay here no matter what.”

Salameh recounted how Hezbollah fighters recovered a safe containing family jewelry and cash from the debris and returned it. Despite the destruction, his determination to rebuild remains steadfast.

Human Cost Overshadows Material Losses

Back in Hanouiyeh, Kourani reflected on the deeper cost of the conflict. “Israel has filled our land with blood. Our big loss is our men,” she said, acknowledging the lives lost, including friends, relatives, and Hezbollah fighters.

Her sentiment resonates with many families who, despite the material devastation, feel the weight of human tragedy most acutely.

The Road Ahead

As southern Lebanon begins to recover, the challenges of reconstruction, financial hardship, and emotional healing loom large. Families like Kourani’s, Saleh’s, and al-Outa’s are navigating the delicate balance between mourning what they’ve lost and rebuilding their futures.

While the ceasefire brings temporary relief, the long-term implications of the conflict, both personal and political, remain uncertain. For now, the people of southern Lebanon are clinging to hope and resilience, determined to reclaim their homes and lives.