Israels postceasefire strategy Systematic obstruction of reconstruction in Southern Lebanon

Israel’s post-ceasefire strategy: Systematic obstruction of reconstruction in Southern Lebanon

TEHRAN – Since the November 2024 ceasefire with Hezbollah, Israel has repeatedly violated the truce, turning what was meant to be a moment of relief for southern Lebanon into yet another chapter of fear, uncertainty, and displacement. What should have been the beginning of reconstruction has instead become a continuation of destruction.

This grim reality was underscored once again on Monday when Israeli warplanes targeted buildings in villages in southern Lebanon. A day earlier, strikes hit the town of Ebba in the Nabatieh governorate, killing one person and injuring several others. As in previous incidents, the Israeli military claimed it was targeting Hezbollah positions — a justification that rings hollow for civilians who continue to bear the brunt of these assaults.

Rather than allowing families to return to their homes, Israel has systematically obstructed the process — striking roads, agricultural lands, and even areas under active reconstruction. Neighborhoods that once bustled with life remain silent, not because their residents lack the will to return, but because Israel has made return dangerous, if not impossible.

In village after village, Israeli drones hover overhead, firing on bulldozers, excavators, and prefabricated homes. These are not military installations — they are the tools of rebuilding, symbols of resilience and survival. Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned these attacks, noting that Israel appears determined to prevent southern Lebanon from rising from the rubble.

Adding to the climate of fear, Israeli aircraft have dropped leaflets over border towns, warning residents not to return and threatening further strikes. The leaflets, often couched in the language of “security,” function as psychological warfare — intimidation as policy, displacement as strategy.

Since October 2023, Israel has killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, the vast majority civilians. This includes hundreds who have been killed in Israeli strikes in violation of the November 2024 truce. Many Lebanese view this campaign as part of a broader attempt to expand control under the long-standing “Greater Israel” vision.

Even after the ceasefire, Israel continues to occupy five points inside Lebanese territory, using drones, shelling, and sniper fire to enforce a de facto buffer zone. These positions allow Israel to monitor and strike deep into Lebanese territory, effectively controlling large swaths of the south through force and surveillance.

The Lebanese government has documented more than 2,000 Israeli violations of the ceasefire in just the last three months of 2025. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration estimates that more than 64,000 people remain internally displaced, many from border villages where Israeli forces continue to fire on anything that moves — including farmers tending their fields, shepherds guiding their flocks, and reconstruction crews attempting to rebuild shattered homes.

For Hezbollah and many Lebanese, Israel’s actions leave little doubt about its intentions. This is not merely about “security.” It is about reshaping the map, weakening communities, and expanding influence through force. Israel’s strikes on reconstruction equipment, its occupation of Lebanese territory, and its intimidation tactics all point to a strategy aimed at preventing the south from recovering — a strategy that aligns with long-standing territorial ambitions.

Yet despite the destruction, the people of southern Lebanon remain steadfast. Their resilience — supported by Hezbollah’s presence and its commitment to defending the south — stands as the primary barrier to Israel’s ambitions. Families who have lost everything still speak of returning home, rebuilding their villages, and restoring life to the land that has endured decades of conflict.

Southern Lebanon has faced war, displacement, and devastation. But it has not surrendered. And as long as its people refuse to abandon their land, Israel’s attempts to impose its vision of dominance will continue to meet resistance — not only from Hezbollah, but from the collective will of a population determined to reclaim its future.

source: tehrantimes.com