Residents of Aitaroun, a border town in South Lebanon, have begun returning to their homes, only to find widespread destruction left by Israeli attacks.
Asharq Al-Awsat documented the scene as the Lebanese Army escorted families back, working to clear sand barriers blocking the town’s entrance. Meanwhile, explosions and Israeli airstrikes continued. The latest attack, on Saturday, targeted the Janta border crossing between Lebanon and Syria in the eastern BeKaa region.
The scale of devastation in Aitaroun was overwhelming, with homes, infrastructure, electricity, water networks, and roads severely damaged by Israeli bombardment.
“We entered the village from the western side, reaching the main square and parts of the eastern sector. However, access to the entire eastern side remains impossible due to the continued presence of the Israeli army,” a resident told Asharq Al-Awsat.
He estimated that over 95% of properties have been damaged, calling for urgent support from the government and international donors to restore essential services.
Another resident noted that most of the destruction occurred after the ceasefire, with homes, shops, and agricultural lands deliberately targeted. Farmers, who were forced to flee, lost their entire annual tobacco harvest while airstrikes destroyed irrigation ponds, burned hundreds of trees, and killed large numbers of poultry, cattle, and beehives.
Aitaroun overlooks Israel’s Yiftah military base, as well as the Hula Valley, the Avivim settlement, and the Dishon and Jall Al-Deir military outposts near Maroun Al-Ras. Before the war, the town had a population of over 9,000 residents, mainly working in agriculture, education, and healthcare, out of 21,000 registered citizens. Many had already migrated to Australia and Canada due to previous Israeli aggressions.
Since the 2006 Lebanon War, the number of residential buildings in Aitaroun had doubled to nearly 1,000, extending to the border for the first time. The town also saw growth in commercial businesses, stone and marble factories, dairy farms, and large grocery stores.
As Morgan Ortagus, Deputy US Envoy for the Middle East, visited Lebanon on Saturday—ten days before the ceasefire extension deadline on February 18—Israeli attacks on southern villages continued.
Israeli forces detonated homes in Kfar Kila and set fire to houses in Adaisseh, with flames spreading to nearby forests. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit Janta in eastern Lebanon, near the Syrian border.
During her visit to South Lebanon, Ortagus toured Bayada and Shamaa, accompanied by acting Lebanese Army Commander General Hassan Ouda and senior officers.
In response to ongoing Israeli operations, municipalities in Western and Central sectors issued warnings to residents, journalists, and visitors about the dangers of landmines left behind by Israeli forces.
