Lebanon is once again facing a dangerous escalation of violence after only fifteen months of a fragile ‘ceasefire’, which Israël violated on a daily basis. Rockets fired by Hezbollah towards Israel on March 2nd as a response towards attacks launched by Israel and the United States on Iran two days before that have triggered new hostilities.
This time, Israel seems determined to eliminate Iran’s influence in Lebanon by disarming/destroying Hezbollah. Its Minister of Finance even threatened to turn Lebanon into the new Gaza. The Israeli offensive has already killed more than 900 people, under which many civilians. The escalation triggered new large waves of displacement. More than a million people had to flee South Lebanon and South Beirut, heading northward, looking for safety in either the Bekaa Valley or Tripoli, or the northern districts of Beirut. School and public buildings have been converted to makeshift shelters while displaced families are forced to sleep on the street.
On top of that, in the South of Lebanon, Human Rights Watch verified that Israel started using white phosphorus, a weapon which has incendiary effects and can set targets on fire, causing death or cruel injuries. Human Rights Watch has warned that the use of such weapon in residential areas could be considered unlawful.
The return of a nightmare
For many, the renewed violence feels like the return of a nightmare they had hoped was over. Many civilians say they feel trapped in a conflict they never chose. Anger towards Hezbollah which has dragged Lebanon in a new war is palpable.
We didn’t want to be part of this, but somehow, we are just part of it. We have had enough of everything. We are losing the energy.
A. from Tripoli
The sense of fatigue and exhaustion reflect years of various crisis that Lebanon has had to navigate including an economic collapse, the Beirut port explosion in 2020 and repeated violence.
Our partners in the region explain that this round of violence feels different from before. Attacks are now targeting a wider range of locations across Lebanon which previously felt safe. In past days, explosions were reported in central Beirut. This week, a scene of horror was witnessed as several displaced individuals were killed by a strike on Beirut’s corniche where many families have taken refuge sleeping on the street. Night-time operations in the Bekaa keep residents awake and fearful. Anxiety is real as there is no sense of safety anymore across the country.
Everyone is on alert and on the nerves.
V. from Bekaa
The possibility of a large scale ground invasion which would aim to create a buffer zone in Southern Lebanon dominate conversations. In villages across the South, families are preparing emergency plans and identifying routes to leave if the situation deteriorates further.
While the Lebanese Government has reaffirmed its commitment to put an end to attacks launched by Hezbollah from its territory, social divisions are becoming increasingly visible.
Polarization is growing between those who support Hezbollah’s actions and those who oppose them. People are arguing everywhere, many are exhausted by the ongoing instability
V. from the Bekaa
Following Israel’s announcement that it will target Hezbollah affiliates wherever they are, fear and mistrust has intensified in some communities. Concerns exist that hosting displaced families, who are often perceived as linked to Hezbollah, could expose communities to attacks. As a result, some areas have been reluctant to host displaced families.
Who’s able to help?
Grassroots groups and community initiatives are struggling to respond to the growing crisis. In 2024, various solidarity initiatives and aid groups had been able to mobilize significant resources to assist displaced families with emergency needs. But this time, the situation is more difficult. While local communities have barely recovered from impacts of the last war waged by Israel, funding shortages have severely limited the capacity of groups as many are currently unable to deploy the much-needed support to local communities.
Our partner Peace of Art , that operates in the Bekaa Valley, was able to operate community kitchens in 2024. Today these kitchens remain closed because funding is simply not there.
We stand ready to operate the kitchens in our two community centres. We are setting up the ovens, the stoves, but we need the primary supplies and we don’t yet have the funding for that.
V. from the Bekaa
The role of the Lebanese government remains strikingly limited. Already weakened by years of economic crisis and political paralysis, it is struggling to ensure the safety of its population or to provide basic assistance at the scale required. As a result, much of the response has fallen on local communities, informal networks of solidarity. Organizations working on the ground, including our partners, continue to assess growing needs.
As violence intensifies, fears are growing that Lebanon is slipping back into patterns reminiscent of the civil war. Deepening divisions and the threat of a large-scale Israeli invasion reinforce this anxiety. For many, this is not just another escalation, it is a return to a past they never wanted to relive.
We call for:
- An immediate cessation of hostilities by all parties, including Israel and Hezbollah, to prevent further civilian harm
- No Israeli ground invasion but total withdrawal from Lebanese territory
- Accountability for violations of international humanitarian law, including the targeting of civilians and the use of prohibited or indiscriminate weapons
- Increasing direct and flexible support to grassroots local initiatives and organizations providing critical assistance on the ground, enabling them to respond effectively to urgent needs of affected communities
