Lebanese resident Mohammed, 37, took advantage of a recent funeral announcement in his hometown of Khiam to return after leaving five months ago. He felt safer joining the funeral procession from Nabatieh, despite Israeli drones overhead.
His short visit of about two hours revealed extensive damage from Israeli airstrikes, leaving him in tears at the sight of his neighbor’s destroyed home.
Similar experiences are shared by visitors to southern Lebanon’s border region, where towns and homes have been destroyed by Israeli shelling and airstrikes.
Mohammed, like many, considers himself lucky to have left his house, seeing it as a necessary step to protect against ongoing attacks that don’t differentiate between civilians and others.
Compared to neighboring villages, Khiam’s destruction is relatively mild, with places like Aita al-Shaab suffering the worst.
According to a volunteer with an international relief organization, Kfar Kila has seen over 400 homes damaged. The destruction extends to Aita al-Shaab, where entire residential blocks have been leveled by Israeli airstrikes over the past six months.
Since Oct. 8, the Israeli military has stepped up attacks on villages and border towns, moving from artillery fire to drone strikes and aerial bombings from fighter jets.
Official sources in southern Lebanon report that “more than 4,000 attacks have hit 23 towns directly along the border with Israel since Oct. 8.”
Nearby towns deeper into Lebanon have also faced airstrikes and artillery fire, but less frequently.
A report by the UN Development Program in Lebanon last December found that over 90 villages were targeted, with some attacks hitting empty homes and facilities.
Exact numbers of homes destroyed or damaged are hard to come by due to ongoing fighting, preventing official surveys.
However, initial estimates suggest over 1,200 homes have been completely destroyed, with about 5,000 suffering partial damage. The true extent of the damage won't be known until officials can conduct thorough assessments.
