In southern Lebanon, residents are returning to villages devastated by Israeli strikes.

In the village of Qlaileh, in southern Lebanon, residents are discovering a landscape of ruins after recent clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. While a ceasefire has taken effect, many families are returning to their destroyed neighborhoods to witness the extent of the damage left by the bombings.

Among them is Abed Hachem, a 46-year-old father of three. His house had already been damaged during the 2024 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. After months of effort to rebuild it, he says he has lost everything again in the latest Israeli strikes that hit his village.

Where his home once stood, only a pile of rubble remains. His garden has vanished under a blanket of dust, while children's toys, furniture, and personal belongings are scattered among the debris. "Oh my God... There used to be a building here," he said, pointing to the destroyed structures that once housed his neighbors.

In Qlaileh, the bell tower of the local mosque is among the few structures still standing. According to residents, much of the village was destroyed or severely damaged during the recent fighting.

This latest escalation began on March 2 when Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel in support of its Iranian ally, according to Reuters. Israel responded with an air campaign and a ground offensive that allowed it to seize control of parts of southern Lebanon.

Israeli authorities claim their operations targeted Hezbollah positions and infrastructure. On the ground, however, the consequences are visible in several localities where residents now face the destruction of their homes and livelihoods.

While the fighting appears to have stopped, the reconstruction effort promises to be immense. For many residents of southern Lebanon, a return to normalcy still seems a long way off, in a region marked by years of tension and destruction that is repeated with each new outbreak of violence.