Lebanon: Displaced residents return to southern Lebanon village after months of Israeli occupation.

SHOTLIST: AIN ARAB, LEBANON (JUNE 24, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF RETURNING INTERNALLY DISPLACED LEBANESE RESIDENTS, SECURITY CHECKPOINTS, DAMAGED AGRICULTURAL FIELDS AND VILLAGE 2. OSMAN AHMED, AYN ARAB VILLAGE HEADMAN (MUKHTAR), SPEAKING TO REPORTER (Arabic) 3. VARIOUS OF MUKHTAR AHMED SHOWING STATE OF HIS RESIDENCE 4. VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS CLEARING DEBRIS, RESUMING THEIR DAILY LIFE 5. HANAN ALI, LOCAL SHOP OWNER, SPEAKING TO REPORTER (Arabic) 6. VARIOUS OF RETURNING RESIDENTS UNLOADING BELONGINGS FROM PICKUP TRUCK 7. SIHAM IBRAHIM, LOCAL RESIDENT, SPEAKING TO REPORTER (Arabic) 8. VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS CLEARING DEBRIS, RESUMING THEIR DAILY LIFEAIN ARAB, LEBANON - JUNE 24: Displaced residents of the southern Lebanese village of Ain Arab began returning home on Wednesday, June 24, four months after fleeing an Israeli military occupation. The returns commenced after Israeli forces withdrew from the area and the Lebanese army cleared an earthen barricade blocking the village entrance on Tuesday afternoon. Israeli air and ground operations on March 2 forced most of the village's 3,000 residents to flee to safer regions, including Beqaa, Nabatieh, and Sidon. Village headman Osman Ahmed confirmed that roughly 80 families arrived back on Wednesday morning, while many others remain en route. Returning locals face a mixed reality of relief and devastation. While some found their homes intact, others discovered severe property damage. Local shopkeeper Hanan Ali reported that occupying forces completely vandalized and destroyed her business. Despite losing livestock and crops—the community's primary source of income—residents expressed immense gratitude to reclaim their land. Ain Arab is one of dozens of communities located in the southern ‘Yellow Line’ border region that suffered severe displacement and destruction during the conflict. Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some held for decades and others seized during the 2023-2024 war. During its latest offensive, Israeli forces advanced more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory. Since March 2, 2026, Israel’s offensive in Lebanon has killed 4,192 people, wounded 12,171 others and displaced more than one million people, according to Lebanese official figures.