Residents have started returning to the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh following the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of the Lebanese army under a United States-brokered agreement. The return, which marks a tentative step towards normalcy after months of upheaval, comes amid widespread destruction of the town.

More than half of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh has been destroyed, and many structures that remain standing are severely damaged, according to Mayor Abed Ezzeddin. Residents cautiously walked through streets littered with rubble, stopping outside their damaged homes to assess the aftermath. Mohammed Darwish, a local resident, expressed relief and hope, saying he and other inhabitants had waited nearly five months for the opportunity to return. While Darwish intended to stay, he noted that authorities had not clarified whether residents would be permitted to remain overnight.

Despite the extensive damage, some residents are determined to stay and rebuild. Abu Ali Ezzeddin, another local, acknowledged that both his home and his children's houses had been destroyed but emphasized his intent to remain in the town, citing his livelihood as a key factor.

The Lebanese military’s deployment to Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh followed an Israeli withdrawal, implementing part of a phased plan negotiated directly between Lebanon and Israel with the mediation of the United States. Under this agreement, the Lebanese army is to confiscate weapons from Iran-aligned Hezbollah forces in designated areas, while Israeli troops gradually pull back to allow Lebanese forces to take control.

Israeli authorities have described Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh as one of three communities included in the initial pilot phase of this arrangement. However, Israeli troops remain present in a separate region about 10 kilometers inside southern Lebanon, where they have demolished numerous villages. Consequently, tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese residents are still unable to return to their homes.