Displaced Lebanese return to southern border to mourn and pray over Eid

Displaced residents of southern Lebanon returned to their hometowns on Monday to observe a significant Muslim holiday and mourn those lost in the ongoing cross-border conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

“Today is Eid al-Adha, but it’s entirely different this year,” said Rabab Yazbek, a 44-year-old teacher, at a cemetery in Naqoura, a coastal town heavily affected by the violence. She noted that nearly every family had experienced loss, whether it was a relative, friend, or neighbor. Yazbek herself had taught two people who were killed in the conflict.

Since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, which ignited war in Gaza, Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in almost daily cross-border fire. This violence has resulted in at least 473 deaths in Lebanon, primarily fighters but also 92 civilians, according to AFP. Israel reports that 15 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed in its northern region.

At the cemetery in Naqoura, women in black chadors mourned at newly adorned graves, which were decorated with flowers and large photos of the deceased, including Hezbollah fighters. The municipality had coordinated with the Lebanese Army to allow residents a two-hour window to visit the cemetery and mosque for Eid al-Adha.

Similar initiatives saw residents return to several border villages in southern Lebanon. Yellow Hezbollah flags and green Amal movement flags, an ally of Hezbollah, were displayed at the cemetery near the UN peacekeepers’ headquarters.

Lebanese soldiers escorted residents into Naqoura, coordinating with UN peacekeepers, who communicated with the Israeli side to maintain calm. Amidst the town’s rubble, residents found remnants of their lives, such as a shattered family photo and damaged storefronts.

Hezbollah increased its attacks on northern Israel last week after an Israeli strike killed a senior commander. Although Hezbollah has not claimed any attacks since Saturday afternoon, Lebanese media reported Israeli bombardments over the weekend and a fatal strike on Monday.

Abbas Awada, Naqoura’s municipality head, described the attacks on the town as “cowardly.” An Israeli strike last week killed an employee of the local public water company.

The UN’s International Organization for Migration reports that over 95,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon due to the hostilities, with tens of thousands also displaced on the Israeli side of the border.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Ezzedine, speaking to a large crowd at the Naqoura mosque, emphasized the community’s resilience. “This land is ours, we will not leave it,” he declared. “We support this resistance (Hezbollah) because it protects and defends us.”