Tens of thousands of Lebanese displaced by the war between Israel and Hezbollah headed back to their devastated towns and villages Wednesday as a ceasefire took hold.
Beirut, Lebanon: Tens of thousands of Lebanese displaced by the war between Israel and Hezbollah headed back to their devastated towns and villages Wednesday as a ceasefire took hold.
Under the terms of the deal that ended the war, the Lebanese military began to reinforce its presence in the country’s south, where Hezbollah has long been in control.
The war intensified after nearly a year of cross-border fire launched by the militant group in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas, whose attack on Israel in October last year sparked the war in Gaza.
It killed thousands in Lebanon and prompted mass displacements on both sides of the border.
In September, Israel switched its attention to Lebanon to secure its northern border from Hezbollah attacks, meting out a series of heavy blows to the movement.
The war has left the Iran-backed group significantly weakened, with a blow including the killing in an Israeli air raid of its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
But that did not stop it from proclaiming “victory” over Israel in a statement released Wednesday. Victory from God almighty was the ally of the righteous cause,” said Hezbollah.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah told AFP that his group was cooperating with the Lebanese army on the deployment in south Lebanon.
He said the Lebanese state is “fully cooperating” in boosting the army’s deployment. The group had “no visible weapons or bases”, but “nobody can make residents leave their villages.”
The road from the capital to the south was congested from before dawn, with thousands of people heading home.
AFP journalists witnessed packed cars and minibuses with people carrying mattresses, suitcases and blankets while honking their horns and singing to celebrate.
