What's happened
Following a ceasefire ending Lebanon's deadliest war in decades, thousands return home to find devastation. The World Bank estimates reconstruction costs at $8.5 billion, raising questions about Hezbollah's future and Lebanon's political stability amid ongoing tensions with Israel.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Independent highlights the devastation faced by returning residents and the challenges of rebuilding, questioning who will finance the reconstruction. The New York Times captures the bittersweet return of displaced individuals, emphasizing the emotional toll and the physical destruction left behind. Ben Hubbard from the New York Times notes Hezbollah's weakened position post-war, suggesting that the group may struggle to maintain its influence amid the destruction and loss of support.
How we got here
Lebanon has endured a year of intense conflict, primarily between Hezbollah and Israel. The recent ceasefire aims to halt hostilities but leaves significant destruction and political uncertainty in its wake, with Hezbollah's role in the future of Lebanon still unclear.
More on these topics
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Hassan Nasrallah is the third and current Secretary General of the Lebanese political and paramilitary party Hezbollah since his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, was assassinated by the Israel Defense Forces in February 1992.
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.
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The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of poorer countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects.