‘Nothing more agonising’: Fear defines life in Lebanon amid Israeli strikes
Nothing More Agonising: Fear Defines Life in Lebanon Amid Israeli Strikes
A Village in Ruins
Nothing more agonising – From a friend’s balcony, Milia el-Cheikh peers at the remnants of her village, once a familiar home now reduced to rubble. Barbed wire now marks the entrance, a stark symbol of the devastation wrought by Israeli forces engaged in conflict with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Dibbine, a Shiite-majority community, is among the many southern Lebanese towns engulfed in the ongoing battle.
A Ritual of Loss
El-Cheikh, one of the few Christians in Dibbine, seeks refuge in another village but often returns to Jdeidat Marjayoun, a mostly Christian settlement nearby, to meet a churchmate. This simple act, once a source of comfort, now occurs amid the shadow of destruction and anxiety. “I don’t know anything about my house,” she said.
“Nothing is more agonising than not being able to get to your home.”
Occupied Zones and Ceasefires
The most recent agreement, a temporary truce brokered between the U.S. and Iran, seems to be holding. Yet Israeli troops continue to operate in southern Lebanon, expanding their control up to 12 kilometers deep in some areas. The military has displaced Shiite populations, suspecting them of harboring Hezbollah, while allowing Christian, Sunni, and Druze communities to remain.
Conflict’s Impact
Residents of mixed communities now live under the threat of bombings and raids, their lives upended by the war. Road closures have cut them off from the rest of the country, and nighttime attacks by Israeli forces have instilled fear. Displaced Shiites face exclusion from these areas, as warnings against hosting Hezbollah fighters effectively bar them from returning. This has deepened political and sectarian divides, long dormant since Lebanon’s civil war.
Stories of Survival
Khiam, a Shiite town flattened by Israeli control, lies within view of Qlayaa, a Christian village. Qlayaa’s residents are denied access to their valley groves, with the mayor lamenting,
“Now another season is lost.”
A priest was killed by shelling while inspecting damage, and a father with two children perished in a drone strike en route to the village. Israel claims its targets are only militants.
Villages Under Fire
In Jdeidat Marjayoun, a house was bombed after suspicions of militant use, while Hezbollah rockets damaged a church’s dome. Solar panels, power transmitters, and water stations have also been hit. El-Cheikh fled Dibbine in early March following Israeli warnings. After weeks of clashes, Israeli forces raided the village in late May before withdrawing in early June.
Fractured Neighbors
Residents like Lolitta Costantine, a friend of El-Cheikh, have endured trauma. Her home in Jdeidat Marjayoun bears cracks from explosions, shattered windows, and loose doors. She keeps shrapnel as a reminder of the ordeal. Shiites seeking shelter are sometimes turned away by those fearing Israeli strikes or eviction, intensifying tensions in the region.