Families return to destruction in southern Lebanon

On Tyre’s beachfront, a yellow banner with a Hezbollah logo was put up next to one of many residential buildings hit. It said, “Made in USA”, in reference to the bombs that were probably used in the attack.

As the pause in the fighting held, residents returned to badly damaged homes. All day Wednesday a constant flow of cars arrived, packed with families, bags and mattresses.

Some people waved Hezbollah flags; in the distance, there was the sporadic sound of celebratory gunfire. Many supporters say the ceasefire is a sign of the group’s victory. The “resistance”, as they often refer to Hezbollah, stopped the Israeli military’s advances on the ground, they contend, and Israel failed to achieve its objectives in Lebanon.

It is a narrative that will find very little – if any – support elsewhere.

Hezbollah has been weakened, large parts of the country lie in ruins, and many, including those who had accused the group of dragging Lebanon to a conflict that was not in its interests, say the war has only led to death and destruction.

Nearly 4,000 people were killed and more than 16,000 injured, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.