Lebanese Villagers Return Home as Israeli Forces Withdraw

• Feb 18, 2025

Israeli forces withdrew from several villages in southern Lebanon on Tuesday under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement but remained stationed at five strategic locations inside the country. The continued presence of Israeli troops has sparked outrage among Lebanese leaders, who argue it violates the terms of the deal.

Lebanese soldiers moved into the areas vacated by Israeli forces, clearing roadblocks and checking for unexploded ordnance. Access to the villages was restricted while the military worked to secure the area. Many residents waited anxiously by the roadside for permission to check on their homes, while some forced their way in despite restrictions.

For many, returning home was bittersweet. Entire neighborhoods had been destroyed during the year-long conflict and the two months after the ceasefire in November, when Israeli forces still occupied the area. In Kfar Kila, one of the hardest-hit villages, residents were shocked by the extent of the destruction.

“What I’m seeing is beyond belief. I am in a state of shock,” said Khodo Suleiman, a construction contractor, pointing to the ruins of his home. “There are no homes, no plants, nothing left.”

Lebanese soldiers were deployed in the village, clearing debris from the streets as families surveyed the damage. Kfar Kila Mayor Hassan Sheet later confirmed that 90% of the village’s homes had been completely destroyed, while the remaining buildings were damaged. He said reconstruction would have to start from scratch.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz defended the army’s decision to maintain a presence in five strategic areas inside Lebanon, stating that the posts were necessary to prevent ceasefire violations by Hezbollah. He also announced that Israel had reinforced positions along its side of the border.

However, Lebanon’s top leaders—the president, prime minister, and parliament speaker—issued a joint statement condemning the continued Israeli presence as an occupation and a violation of the ceasefire agreement. They urged the U.N. Security Council to intervene and demand a full withdrawal.

The United Nations also voiced concerns. U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and UNIFIL head Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro acknowledged progress since the ceasefire but warned that Israel’s continued presence could undermine long-term stability.

The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel began in October 2023, one day after Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel. Israeli airstrikes and shelling followed, escalating into full-scale war in September. More than 4,000 people were killed in Lebanon, and over 1 million were displaced. On the Israeli side, dozens were killed, and around 60,000 people were forced from their homes.

Among the displaced was Hussein Fares, a laborer who fled Kfar Kila in October 2023. After months of moving between shelters, he was eager to return, despite the uncertainty. “I have been waiting for a year and a half to come back,” he said. “I know rebuilding will take time, but I have been counting the seconds for this day.”