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PHOTO ESSAY

In images: Proud and angry, residents of Kfar Kila and Houla return home

Many residents of southern Lebanon had expected to return home nearly a month ago, on Jan. 26, the initial deadline set for the Israeli forces' withdrawal. After Israeli demands, the deadline was postponed to Feb. 18.

On Tuesday, the Lebanese Army regained control of several villages that had been occupied by Israeli forces. Still, Israel has again demanded to remain at five key positions along the Blue Line — a decision condemned by the U.N. and Lebanon.

That same day, residents were finally able to return to their villages, devastated by more than a year and a half of fighting, and to their homes, many of which had been destroyed or damaged.

Our journalists accompanied them to Kfar Kila and Houla, both in the Marjayoun district.

Mohammad YASSINE and Matthieu KARAM, 18 February 2025 15:55

Early Tuesday morning, residents were already waiting for the road linking Deir Mimas and Kfar Kila to be opened by the Lebanese Army. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

Early Tuesday morning, residents were already waiting for the road linking Deir Mimas and Kfar Kila to be opened by the Lebanese Army. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

In a hurry to get back to their homes, residents bypassed a Lebanese Army roadblock at Deir Mimas. On the road leading to Kfar Kila, people started running home. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

In a hurry to get back to their homes, residents bypassed a Lebanese Army roadblock at Deir Mimas. On the road leading to Kfar Kila, people started running home. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

All that was left was a landscape of devastation. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

All that was left was a landscape of devastation. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

Israeli strikes and exactions have razed entire sections of the village to the ground. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

Israeli strikes and exactions have razed entire sections of the village to the ground. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

The Lebanese Army deployed in the village. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

The Lebanese Army deployed in the village. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

The Lebanese Army has asked residents to stay clear of certain areas until they are inspected. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

The Lebanese Army has asked residents to stay clear of certain areas until they are inspected. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

First responders and residents help each other as they search and clear through the rubble. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

First responders and residents help each other as they search and clear through the rubble. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)

The Lebanese Army deploys in Houla, Marjayoun district, to secure residents' return. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

The Lebanese Army deploys in Houla, Marjayoun district, to secure residents' return. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

Houla's residents, of all generations, returned to their homes. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

Houla's residents, of all generations, returned to their homes. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

Lama Mustafa, 37, holds a photo of her husband, killed by an Israeli strike, whose body remains in Houla. She refuses to take the risk of walking through the rubble as some villagers were doing. “The Minister of Education didn't think of the families of the South on this day,” she denounces, explaining that she had to leave her three children alone at school so they wouldn't miss their exams. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

Lama Mustafa, 37, holds a photo of her husband, killed by an Israeli strike, whose body remains in Houla. She refuses to take the risk of walking through the rubble as some villagers were doing. “The Minister of Education didn't think of the families of the South on this day,” she denounces, explaining that she had to leave her three children alone at school so they wouldn't miss their exams. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

“I come here almost every day, but today is special. You don't see the Israeli enemy anymore,” said Wafaa Hussein, who took shelter during the war in Saida. The thirty-something mourns the memory of a child who was killed by Israeli strikes. “She had courage. We have a lot of martyrs, almost a hundred, and that's something to be proud of... We have a saying in Houla: 'You plant martyrs before you plant olive trees.'" (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

“I come here almost every day, but today is special. You don't see the Israeli enemy anymore,” said Wafaa Hussein, who took shelter during the war in Saida. The thirty-something mourns the memory of a child who was killed by Israeli strikes. “She had courage. We have a lot of martyrs, almost a hundred, and that's something to be proud of... We have a saying in Houla: 'You plant martyrs before you plant olive trees.'" (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

Residents carry Hezbollah flags. Lebanese Army troops now control every entrance to the village of Houla. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

Residents carry Hezbollah flags. Lebanese Army troops now control every entrance to the village of Houla. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

“In the living room was a photo of my daughter with Sayyed [Hassan Nasrallah]. She had won a prize at school at the time. The Israelis broke the frame and cut out the photo, just to upset us,” said a local resident. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

“In the living room was a photo of my daughter with Sayyed [Hassan Nasrallah]. She had won a prize at school at the time. The Israelis broke the frame and cut out the photo, just to upset us,” said a local resident. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

Ali holds a picture of his father, Ayman Chafic Mahmoud, killed by an Israeli strike. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

Ali holds a picture of his father, Ayman Chafic Mahmoud, killed by an Israeli strike. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

Residents place photos on the rubble and pay tribute to their loved ones. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

Residents place photos on the rubble and pay tribute to their loved ones. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

Residents pay tribute to late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

Residents pay tribute to late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

By mid-day, the entire village had not yet been secured. Here, soldiers block the road leading to a private residence in the center of Houla. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

By mid-day, the entire village had not yet been secured. Here, soldiers block the road leading to a private residence in the center of Houla. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)

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  • Early Tuesday morning, residents were already waiting for the road linking Deir Mimas and Kfar Kila to be opened by the Lebanese Army. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
    1/17 Early Tuesday morning, residents were already waiting for the road linking Deir Mimas and Kfar Kila to be opened by the Lebanese Army. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
  • In a hurry to get back to their homes, residents bypassed a Lebanese Army roadblock at Deir Mimas. On the road leading to Kfar Kila, people started running home. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
    2/17 In a hurry to get back to their homes, residents bypassed a Lebanese Army roadblock at Deir Mimas. On the road leading to Kfar Kila, people started running home. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
  • All that was left was a landscape of devastation. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
    3/17 All that was left was a landscape of devastation. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
  • Israeli strikes and exactions have razed entire sections of the village to the ground. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
    4/17 Israeli strikes and exactions have razed entire sections of the village to the ground. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
  • The Lebanese Army deployed in the village. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
    5/17 The Lebanese Army deployed in the village. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
  • The Lebanese Army has asked residents to stay clear of certain areas until they are inspected. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
    6/17 The Lebanese Army has asked residents to stay clear of certain areas until they are inspected. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
  • First responders and residents help each other as they search and clear through the rubble. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
    7/17 First responders and residents help each other as they search and clear through the rubble. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/OLJ)
  • The Lebanese Army deploys in Houla, Marjayoun district, to secure residents' return. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
    8/17 The Lebanese Army deploys in Houla, Marjayoun district, to secure residents' return. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
  • Houla's residents, of all generations, returned to their homes. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
    9/17 Houla's residents, of all generations, returned to their homes. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
  • Lama Mustafa, 37, holds a photo of her husband, killed by an Israeli strike, whose body remains in Houla. She refuses to take the risk of walking through the rubble as some villagers were doing. “The Minister of Education didn't think of the families of the South on this day,” she denounces, explaining that she had to leave her three children alone at school so they wouldn't miss their exams. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
    10/17 Lama Mustafa, 37, holds a photo of her husband, killed by an Israeli strike, whose body remains in Houla. She refuses to take the risk of walking through the rubble as some villagers were doing. “The Minister of Education didn't think of the families of the South on this day,” she denounces, explaining that she had to leave her three children alone at school so they wouldn't miss their exams. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
  • “I come here almost every day, but today is special. You don't see the Israeli enemy anymore,” said Wafaa Hussein, who took shelter during the war in Saida. The thirty-something mourns the memory of a child who was killed by Israeli strikes. “She had courage. We have a lot of martyrs, almost a hundred, and that's something to be proud of... We have a saying in Houla: 'You plant martyrs before you plant olive trees.'" (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
    11/17 “I come here almost every day, but today is special. You don't see the Israeli enemy anymore,” said Wafaa Hussein, who took shelter during the war in Saida. The thirty-something mourns the memory of a child who was killed by Israeli strikes. “She had courage. We have a lot of martyrs, almost a hundred, and that's something to be proud of... We have a saying in Houla: 'You plant martyrs before you plant olive trees.'" (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
  • Residents carry Hezbollah flags. Lebanese Army troops now control every entrance to the village of Houla. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
    12/17 Residents carry Hezbollah flags. Lebanese Army troops now control every entrance to the village of Houla. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
  • “In the living room was a photo of my daughter with Sayyed [Hassan Nasrallah]. She had won a prize at school at the time. The Israelis broke the frame and cut out the photo, just to upset us,” said a local resident. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
    13/17 “In the living room was a photo of my daughter with Sayyed [Hassan Nasrallah]. She had won a prize at school at the time. The Israelis broke the frame and cut out the photo, just to upset us,” said a local resident. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
  • Ali holds a picture of his father, Ayman Chafic Mahmoud, killed by an Israeli strike. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
    14/17 Ali holds a picture of his father, Ayman Chafic Mahmoud, killed by an Israeli strike. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
  • Residents place photos on the rubble and pay tribute to their loved ones. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
    15/17 Residents place photos on the rubble and pay tribute to their loved ones. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
  • Residents pay tribute to late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
    16/17 Residents pay tribute to late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
  • By mid-day, the entire village had not yet been secured. Here, soldiers block the road leading to a private residence in the center of Houla. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)
    17/17 By mid-day, the entire village had not yet been secured. Here, soldiers block the road leading to a private residence in the center of Houla. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/OLJ)