What's happened
As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, Lebanese families return to find their homes destroyed. The ongoing violence has displaced nearly 1.5 million people and left a significant toll on the environment and local agriculture, with many refugees struggling to rebuild their lives amidst the devastation.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Independent highlights the emotional toll on families like the Jawhari family, who returned to find their home reduced to rubble, stating, "Our world turned upside down in a second." The Ecologist reports on the plight of Syrian refugees like Nazha, who now face environmental challenges due to bombings contaminating their farmland. Both sources illustrate the profound personal and communal losses experienced by those affected by the ongoing conflict.
How we got here
The conflict intensified in late September 2023, following Hezbollah's missile attacks into Israel. Israel's retaliatory airstrikes have led to widespread destruction in southern Lebanon, displacing thousands and causing significant civilian casualties.
More on these topics
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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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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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Baalbek is a city located east of the Litani River in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley, about 67 km northeast of Beirut. It is the capital of Baalbek-Hermel Governorate. In Greek and Roman times Baalbek was also known as Heliopolis.
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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.
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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.