Milia el-Cheikh, a Christian from the destroyed village of Dibbine, struggles to find her home amidst the ruins. Her village, one of several Shiite-majority communities in southern Lebanon, was destroyed by Israeli forces battling Hezbollah.
El-Cheikh, who found shelter in another village, regularly visits Jdeidat Marjayoun, a mostly Christian village next to her hometown, to have coffee with a friend from church. However, the ritual now takes place against a backdrop of loss and fear.
The latest conflict began when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, prompting Israel to invade Lebanon and expand its zone of control. Israeli troops have pushed out the mostly Shiite population, believing they harbor Hezbollah, and many towns have been demolished.
Residents of neighboring Christian, Sunni, and Druze communities have been allowed to stay, but the conflict has transformed their lives. Their homes have been struck, road closures have isolated them from the rest of Lebanon, and nighttime raids by Israeli troops have terrified residents.
Israeli warnings against hosting Hezbollah fighters have effectively barred them from taking in displaced Shiites, driving a wedge between longtime neighbors and stoking political and sectarian tensions.
Lebanon is a linchpin for the Iran deal, and the latest conflict has raised tensions between Iran and Israel. The Iranian government has called for a wider truce that includes Lebanon, while Hezbollah says it will resist occupation.
The Israeli military says its troops will remain in southern Lebanon for self-defense, but residents are living in fear of Israeli strikes and eviction. The conflict has also led to a rise in tensions between Shiites and other communities, with some residents being turned away from seeking shelter.
As the fighting raged on, residents were forced to flee their homes, leaving behind shattered lives and communities. The Israeli military has warned people not to allow Hezbollah to use their villages, saying it could put them at risk or force them to be evacuated.
The conflict has also led to a rise in detentions by Israeli troops, with at least eight people being detained since March. The Israeli military says they were suspected of involvement in militant activities and plots against its troops.
