Israeli strikes damage over 90,000 homes in southern Lebanon: Dawn

More than 90,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed in a series of Israeli military strikes in southern Lebanon. At the same time, more than 600,000 people have not been able to return to their homes due to insecurity. Local residents fear that violence could break out again at any moment.
An Al Jazeera report today (July 7) said that Israeli forces have been conducting raids on various villages in southern Lebanon for several months. Even videos are being released of the destruction of military homes and entire neighborhoods in various areas. Human rights organizations have complained that this activity violates international law.
Al Jazeera’s Lebanon correspondent Zeina Khodr said that Hussein Sabra, a resident of the southern city of Tibnin, can see his hometown of Hadatha but is unable to go there. He hears constant explosions in his village, just a few kilometers away. “No one can bear to see their homes, livelihoods and childhood memories destroyed,” Sabra said.
According to a Lebanese government survey, more than 90,000 homes in the south have been damaged or completely destroyed by the conflict. It is estimated that rebuilding these structures will cost more than a billion dollars. However, this cost is beyond the reach of ordinary people in war-torn areas.
Ahmed Hamza, a resident of Tibnin, said that many families cannot afford to rebuild completely, so they are only trying to make minor repairs to make them habitable. But they are always afraid of new attacks.
“People are repairing as much as they can just to survive. But everyone is afraid that violence could break out again,” he said. Even families who have already returned to their homes have not been able to return to normal life. Residents say the sound of explosions and the fear of attacks have become a daily reality.
Abu Hussein, another resident of Tibnin, said, “The children are always terrified by the sound of explosions. Every time there is an explosion, the whole house shakes.” Locals say the prolonged conflict has caused widespread damage not only to homes but also to livelihoods, farmland and social infrastructure, leaving them facing a long reconstruction challenge before they can return to normal life even after the fighting has stopped.