Residents returning to southern Lebanon face uncertainty as Israeli fire, threats fracture ceasefire

Residents of villages in southern Lebanon, many of whom returned immediately after a ceasefire took effect in the early hours of Wednesday morning, face a state of uncertainty as Israeli troops still stationed in sites along the border launched fire from tanks and drones and warned families not to return home Thursday.

In Yohmor, families who returned to their homes just over 24 hours ago didn’t know what to do. “We came back from Saida, where we were displaced, because of the ceasefire,” returning Yohmor resident Salama Majed told Mada Masr. “We cleaned our house — since we found it wrecked, filled with rubble and dust from the shelling. But now, with these threats, where do we go?"

Although Israel announced its intention to adhere to an agreement to cease hostilities with Hezbollah starting Wednesday, Israeli forces remain stationed in Lebanese towns and villages near the border and have launched fire as families returned south. 

An Israeli drone fired at a car carrying two individuals in the border town of Markaba, injuring both, according to a Lebanese military source who spoke to Mada Masr on condition of anonymity. 

Continuous gunfire was also heard early on Thursday in Maroun al-Ras and several nearby villages, the source said. Reports said that Israeli tanks also launched fire on Khiam and Ramish, located near Lebanon’s border with Israel. Israel’s military claimed it had detected movement along the border, where people were not permitted to return. Israeli drones hovered over the districts of Bint Jbeil and Sur. 

Residents of several villages a few kilometers north of the border have also been instructed not to return to their homes by Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, who issued a statement in the early hours of Thursday, listing 10 no-go villages — Shebaa, Hebbariyeh, Marjayoun, Arnoun, Yohmor, Qantara, Shaqra, Baraachit, Yater and Mansouri — that residents are prohibited from entering.

In Yohmor, families who just returned to their homes don’t know what to do.

Majed expressed concern over renewed Israeli shelling and attacks in light of the recent threats. Families in the village are at loss, she said, waiting to decide whether to “leave the village and go back to where we were in Saida, or stay in our homes.”

Yohmor residents’ representative, Samir Qassem, told Mada Masr that 60 families returned to the village after the ceasefire agreement. "The village is full of people, and we will not be intimidated by Adraee’s threats," he said. Around 40 more families are yet to return. 

Meanwhile, Yohmor al-Shaqif municipality head Hussein Barakat told Mada Masr that the Israeli threats are serious. "We are in contact with the military leadership and [the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon] to determine whether families who returned should evacuate or remain in their homes under the protection of the military and UNIFIL," he said. "The ceasefire has been implemented, and the residents returned under the agreement. So, why the threats?" 

Fear of renewed Israeli attacks looms large, he said, adding that shelling and airstrikes during Israel’s  assault on Lebanon in the past two months have already left three-quarters of homes in some areas “either destroyed or severely damaged.” “Israel has thrived on crime, killing and bloodshed, from Palestine to Lebanon and other Arab countries. We fear for our people, but for now, we urge them to be patient. We will notify them if the Lebanese military issues a directive,” Barakat said. 

Ali Jaber, a resident of Arnoun, whose residents were also ordered by the Israel military not to return, dismissed the Israeli threats as mere intimidation. Jaber was forced to leave the village of Arnoun with his family a day after returning from a prolonged displacement. Back in Nabatieh, they are looking for a house to rent. “My wife, our three children and I came back to Nabatieh to find a place to shelter us in the coming days,” Jaber said, “We are waiting for the relevant authorities to clarify what’s happening so we can settle back [down] in our homes.”

Jaber added that many families have not had the chance to check the condition their homes and properties are in. “We returned [on Wednesday], and today we were told to evacuate. We are waiting for the Lebanese military to explain what’s going on,” he said. 

The Lebanese military deployed additional forces to southern Lebanon in the early hours of Wednesday, in line with the terms of the ceasefire agreement which was made public for the first time by Lebanon’s caretaker Cabinet on Wednesday night. 

The agreement stipulates for the military to deploy 10,000 additional troops to the area and play a role going forward in enforcing the withdrawal of Hezbollah to areas north of the Litani River. 

Over the course of 60 days, Israeli forces are to withdraw from positions in southern Lebanon they have invaded.

The US has also given Israel guarantees that it will be empowered to launch fire on what it perceives as infractions to the deal agreement, according to reports.

In a statement to mark the end of hostilities, Hezbollah celebrated the victory of its troops in repelling invading Israeli forces from advancing further into southern Lebanon, especially at Khiam, where clashes lasted for two weeks. Hezbollah said they conducted over 4,637 “announced” military operations during the 417 days of war.

Israel’s military, too, celebrated what it called a decisive weakening of the Lebanese party.