Conflict · Lebanon · ArchiveLebanon: 15 Families Return to Destroyed Village in First Pilot HandoverAired July 29, 2026 at 7:16 PM UTCWritten September 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:0015 families have returned to the0:01southern Lebanese village of Zaatar el0:03Gharbieh, the first handover under a0:05US-brokered pilot zones agreement with0:07Israel, according to the Associated0:09Press. Of the 500 homes in the village,0:11half are destroyed.0:15250 homes, half the village, have been0:18destroyed.0:21Resident Mohamad Faqih says there is no0:24sense of safety with Israeli troops0:26still in the neighboring village of0:27Zaatar ash Sharqieh. The Lebanese army0:30entered the village last week after0:32Israeli forces withdrew. Lebanon and0:34Israel are scheduled to resume talks in0:36Rome in early August. The destruction0:38and limited return underscore the0:40fragile nature of the peace efforts as0:42Lebanon's political factions remain0:44divided over the deal.Explore with HeyDexThe shortThe short ↗