Meanwhile, Israeli forces have continued to attack Lebanon’s southern villages, including carrying out airstrikes in Nabatiye, Jezzine District, and in the Bekaa Region. Israel has also conducted demolition operations targeting civilian homes and infrastructure in the towns of Kfarkela and Houla, among others. Similar to the Biden administration, the Trump administration has not acknowledged any Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement and instead has continued to provide material and PR support in order to produce an atmosphere within the region that is subservient to US interests and which will work in Israel’s favor.
The attacks on Lebanese sovereignty are occurring as the country prepares for the funeral of Hezbollah Secretary General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated on September 27, 2024 after Israel dropped 85 bunker buster bombs—approximately 85,000 tons of munitions gifted to Israel by the United States—on a city block in a southern suburb of Beirut. The funeral, set to take place on February 23 in Beirut’s Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, would fall into the current extension timeline requested by Israel, which has led many to believe that there will be further acts of aggression to intimidate and disrupt the lives of Lebanese citizens.
Residents in the Dahye who spoke with Splinter say that despite the likelihood of Israeli attacks, which many feel are inevitable during the funeral procession, they will be attending with their families. A local baker in Burj al-Barajneh told Splinter he would be there as early as possible, “even if they rained hellfire missiles upon us, we will be there to bid Sayyed Hassan farewell.” Despite Israel’s ongoing tactics of intimidation, there’s also been a surge of visitors to Lebanon, particularly from Iraq and Iran, ahead of the funeral. Visitors are also expected from 79 countries—both official delegations as well as public supporters.
Israel’s occupation of the southern border towns has been met with defiant villagers who have returned and liberated their towns, even setting up tents atop the rubble of their homes, emphasizing their unwillingness to abandon their land. Should Israel continue with its occupation of South Lebanon, there is no doubt that the patience of the Lebanese Resistance, which has arguably taken up a strategy of watchful waiting—giving them time to reorganize after facing multiple blows by way of communications attacks and assassinations—may run out. One thing is certain, while Lebanese villagers continue to return, the settlers of Palestine’s occupied north have yet to come back, a promise fulfilled by the Lebanese Resistance.
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