Residents return to shattered South Lebanon town after Israeli withdrawal

Residents cautiously re-entered Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh on Friday, surveying the widespread destruction after a five-month absence. Israeli forces withdrew from the southern Lebanese town, allowing the Lebanese army to deploy as part of a US-brokered agreement. The scene was one of devastation, with Mayor Abed Ezzeddin reporting that more than half the town was destroyed and remaining structures were badly damaged.

Residents navigated streets choked with rubble, their return marked by a mix of relief and shock. "We've been waiting for this moment for almost five months," said Mohammed Darwish, expressing a desire to inspect his home. While happy to be back, uncertainty lingered about whether residents would be permitted to stay overnight. Despite the devastation, some, like Abu Ali Ezzeddin, expressed a firm resolve to remain, stating, "My house is destroyed, and my children's house is destroyed. Everything is destroyed. I'm planning to stay... because my livelihood is here."

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We've been waiting for this moment for almost five months. We want to go in and check. We're happy that we're going in today.

The deployment of the Lebanese army marks the initial phase of a plan that involves the confiscation of Hezbollah weapons in designated zones and phased Israeli withdrawals. However, the situation remains precarious. Israeli troops continue to occupy territory further south, displacing tens of thousands. The Lebanese army is actively sweeping Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh for mines and unexploded ordnance, with a senior military official noting that significant work is still required before the town can be declared safe. Adding to the tension, Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc dismissed the Lebanese army's presence as a mere symbolic gesture.

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My house is destroyed, and my children's house is destroyed. Everything is destroyed. I'm planning to stay in (Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh) because my livelihood is here.