Lebanon Crisis: 4,000 Dead, 1.2 Million Displaced Amid Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Tensions
February 17, 2025
Lebanon's leadership, including President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nauaf Salam, has condemned Israel's military actions, claiming they violate the ceasefire agreement and calling for intervention from the UN Security Council.
Displaced individuals, like Hussein Fares and Fatima Shukeir, express a strong desire to return to their communities, despite the long reconstruction process ahead and the potential destruction of their properties.
The town of Khiam, located near the Israeli border, has experienced extensive destruction, with entire blocks reduced to rubble and the cemetery severely damaged.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Trump administration have sent conflicting messages regarding the ceasefire and the eradication of Hamas, complicating the situation further.
Human Rights Watch has reported that Israel's destruction of civilian homes has severely hindered residents' ability to return, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis since the conflict began.
As residents return to their homes to assess damage, many are grappling with a lack of electricity and running water, while workers are engaged in clearing debris and restoring infrastructure.
The ongoing conflict, which escalated after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, has resulted in around 4,000 deaths in Lebanon and displaced over 1.2 million residents.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has issued threats against Israel, warning of further attacks and cautioning against attempts to manipulate public opinion within Iran.
Despite an initial commitment to withdraw by February 18, 2025, Israel maintains its military presence at five strategic locations in southern Lebanon as part of the ceasefire with Hezbollah.
A committee involving the United States, France, Lebanon, Israel, and UN peacekeeping forces is overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire deal and monitoring any violations.
Israeli troops have entered multiple locations in southern Lebanon, including Aabbasiyyeh and Bint Jbeil, as part of a deployment coordinated with a US-led committee and the UN observer force UNIFIL.
Heavy bomb shipments from the U.S. have arrived in Israel, marking the largest military support operation in Israel's history since the conflict escalated.
Summary based on 61 sources
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Sources

BBC News • Feb 12, 2025
Israel seeks another extension for Lebanon withdrawal, source says
The New York Times • Feb 18, 2025
As Deadline for Withdrawal Lapses, Israel Says It Will Stay in Southern Lebanon
BBC News • Feb 18, 2025
Israeli troops stay inside southern Lebanon as forces withdraw