Since a March attack by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah against Israel, life in southern Lebanon has been profoundly affected, with many residents displaced amid ongoing hostilities. The conflict has led to widespread evacuations and military operations, particularly in towns close to the Israeli border.
In towns such as Marjayoun, Arqoub, Hasbaya, and others, many businesses have closed and homes now stand empty or locked. Despite evacuation warnings issued by the Israeli military and the destruction of entire neighborhoods, some residents have chosen to remain in their communities. These individuals, often Christians, Druze, and Sunni Muslims—distinct from the primarily Shiite communities that support Hezbollah—express a deep attachment to their land, coupled with economic constraints and limited options for relocation.
Seventy-three-year-old Hikmat Farha from Marjayoun described the town as a “ghost town” compared to its usual bustle but confirmed his determination to stay. Similar sentiments were shared by other residents, including Issam Mohamed and his wife Fawziya Hassan from Arqoub, who continue to live amid the ongoing violence despite health challenges and deteriorating living conditions. The conflict has disrupted access to essential services, with schools closed, medical facilities strained, and shortages of fuel, water, and agricultural supplies increasingly common. As a fertile agricultural region, southern Lebanon’s farmland has been hit hard—farmers face obstacles in tending crops and livestock due to shelling, damaged infrastructure, and limited mobility.
The current unrest recalls memories of Israel’s occupation of parts of southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000, during which time the area was heavily militarized, and many residents experienced displacement and restricted access to their land. Some locals voice fears that the recent escalation could lead to a repeat of those years, with permanent displacement a real risk.
On a diplomatic level, recent months have seen efforts aimed at defusing tensions, including a U.S.-Iran framework agreement and a preliminary peace deal between Israel and Lebanon. The accord includes provisions for Israel’s gradual withdrawal from more than six miles of Lebanese territory occupied since 2000. However, implementation faces significant obstacles, notably the challenge of disarming Hezbollah, which was excluded from negotiations and has rejected the terms of the agreement. Talks mediated by the United States resumed in Rome on Tuesday, but a definitive resolution remains elusive.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials maintain that military operations target Hezbollah infrastructure and militants, citing the group's ongoing threat to northern Israel’s security. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned that Lebanese civilians who evacuated may be barred from returning until security conditions are met, a stance that compounds the uncertainty faced by displaced families.
The Lebanese government has sought to support those who remain in affected areas. In May, the Social Affairs Minister Haben Sayed conducted visits to frontline villages as part of a cash assistance program aimed at residents who chose not to leave. While welcomed, aid remains insufficient against the backdrop of Lebanon’s broader economic crisis and the increasing humanitarian needs. The United Nations has called for additional funding to assist over one million people projected to face severe food insecurity nationwide, with the southern districts experiencing some of the sharpest increases.
Humanitarian access to the most conflict-affected zones remains limited due to security concerns and damaged infrastructure. Relief organizations such as the Order of Malta continue to provide scarce assistance, delivering supplies intermittently under challenging conditions.
As the conflict persists, those left in southern Lebanon face the daily realities of a war unfolding around them—unpredictable violence, limited services, and the looming possibility that displacement may become permanent for many in the region.