Signs of stability are emerging in Lebanon following the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, with restoration efforts underway on a critical road leading to Lebanon’s main border crossing with Syria. The Masnaa border, a vital route on the Beirut-Damascus International Highway, was heavily damaged by Israeli shelling last month, leaving it impassable. This road, located in the Beqaa Valley, is essential for those fleeing the conflict, and its repair marks a step towards normalcy.
Lebanon’s Minister of Public Works and Transport is expected to visit the site on Wednesday to oversee the restoration of the road, which has been crucial for the half a million displaced people who have sought refuge in Syria during the past two months of intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
As the ceasefire took effect, thousands of displaced Lebanese began their journey back home. Traffic congestion was reported early Wednesday morning on the road from Beirut to Sidon, as people returned with belongings in tow. Cars and minibuses, loaded with mattresses, blankets, and suitcases, filled the roads. Many celebrated the end of the deadly conflict, with Hezbollah supporters marking the truce as a victory.
“We feel indescribable joy,” said one driver heading south. “The people have won!” As the war officially pauses, Lebanon is left grappling with the aftermath of mass displacement and destruction, but the return of displaced residents and the road’s reconstruction offer hope for recovery.
