In South Lebanon, families are returning to destroyed homes and a still fragile peace.

After several months of conflict, hundreds of thousands of residents are gradually returning to southern Lebanon, taking advantage of a relative lull in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. While the beaches of Tyre are slowly seeing visitors again and businesses are reopening, the return to normalcy remains extremely fragile.

Around 400,000 displaced people have been able to return home since a partial ceasefire came into effect. But for many, the return is marked by the scale of the destruction. Homes have been reduced to ruins, entire neighborhoods are devastated, and many families are forced to live in a single room of their damaged house.

In several villages near the border, residents live in constant fear of renewed fighting. Many keep their belongings ready to be evacuated and continue to rent a second home as a precaution, convinced they may be forced to flee again.

According to Lebanese authorities, nearly 600,000 people remain internally displaced, unable to return to their homes. Reconstruction needs are immense, while infrastructure, businesses, and essential services remain severely impacted.

The conflict, which intensified in the spring of 2026, has claimed more than 4,300 lives in Lebanon, according to the Ministry of Health. Despite a decrease in violence, airstrikes continue to be reported in some areas of the south, a reminder that the security situation remains volatile.

For many residents, rebuilding their homes also represents a way to preserve their connection to their land. Despite the risks, many affirm that they will remain in their village, determined to rebuild their lives.