Lebanon is grappling with escalating violence amid ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, as efforts to disarm the militant group have faltered, leading to significant civilian suffering and regional instability. Tensions have intensified following Hezbollah’s renewed attacks on Israel and subsequent Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.

In September 2025, President Joseph Aoun, a former Lebanese Army chief, initiated a disarmament campaign against Hezbollah, a group widely regarded as a proxy of Iran. The effort, however, stalled, and on March 1, 2026, Hezbollah fired on Israel following the U.S.-Israeli assassination of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, signaling its alignment with Tehran and further escalating the conflict. Critics such as retired Lebanese General Khalil Helou have expressed frustration over missed opportunities to reduce Hezbollah’s military capabilities earlier.

Israel perceives Hezbollah as a serious security threat on its northern border, particularly after Hamas’s October 7, 2025, attack, which analysts say bore similarities to a tactical blueprint attributed to Hezbollah. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the creation of a 10-kilometer buffer zone inside southern Lebanon to protect Israeli citizens from potential attacks. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have occupied over 50 towns and villages in the region, with many areas devastated by military raids and airstrikes.

Residents of southern Lebanon face dire conditions and grave security risks amid the fighting. Towns such as Dibbine and Khiam, known Hezbollah strongholds, have experienced near-total destruction during IDF operations. Locals report pervasive surveillance by Lebanese police and frequent mortar fire, underscoring the tensions and dangers in these contested areas. Many civilians remain unable to flee despite Israeli advisories, constrained by financial hardship and the widespread displacement within Lebanon, where approximately 1.2 million people—about one-fifth of the population—have been uprooted.

The toll on families has been severe. In southern Lebanon, the killing of civilians such as the Karam family and retired General Mohammad Hamadi has deepened grievances. The Israeli military said the Karam family’s car was acting suspiciously in an evacuated area, a claim it later retracted, expressing regret for the incident. Similarly, the IDF stated that an airstrike killing General Hamadi targeted a Hezbollah commander’s structure but provided no public evidence.

In Ain El Delb near Beirut, an Israeli missile strike destroyed an apartment building in September 2024, killing 73 people, including multiple members of the Scafi family. The IDF described the building as a “terrorist command center,” but independent analyses have questioned the extent of Hezbollah’s presence, noting that many victims were civilians, including children. Survivors express deep anger toward both Israel for its military actions and Hezbollah for embedding fighters within civilian areas, which complicates the conflict.

Hezbollah maintains strong support in southern Lebanon, with spokesman Salman Harb citing the group’s significant preferential vote count in recent elections as proof of legitimacy. Hezbollah accuses Israel of targeting civilian infrastructure and cultural sites, highlighting strikes that damaged a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tyre during an IDF offensive.

President Aoun has pursued direct talks with Israel, resulting in an agreement last month for Israel to withdraw troops once Hezbollah is disarmed. However, Hezbollah has publicly vowed to resist any Israeli presence, indicating ongoing hostilities. Analysts note that Israel’s limited military operations cannot fully eradicate Hezbollah’s influence without a larger intervention, and prolonged Israeli occupation risks strengthening Hezbollah’s narrative.

The conflict underscores broader challenges facing Lebanon’s sovereignty, as Hezbollah remains embedded within political and military institutions. With Iran’s influence enduring and Western initiatives inconsistent, regional experts warn that without sustained international backing for Lebanon’s central government to assert control and disarm Hezbollah, the cycle of violence is likely to persist.