World Bank estimates reconstruction needs in Lebanon at $11bn
A report issued by the World Bank says the country needs $11bn for reconstruction and recovery following the conflict with Israel. A ceasefire that entered into force in November 2024 halted the 15-month war that caused heavy destruction in Lebanon, particularly in the south of the country.
The report put the war’s total economic cost at $14bn, including $6.8bn in damage to physical structures and $7.2bn in economic losses from reduced productivity, forgone revenues and operating costs.
The Lebanese housing sector was the hardest hit with losses estimated at $4.6bn while the tourism sector lost $3.6bn.
“By the end of 2024, Lebanon’s cumulative GDP decline since 2019 approached 40 percent, compounding the effects of the multipronged economic downturn and impacting Lebanon’s prospects for economic growth,” the report said.
Lebanon says Israeli army allows Israeli citizens into its territory
Lebanon’s army says it’s coordinating with mediators and the UN after Israel’s military allowed Israeli nationals to enter southern Lebanese territory in violation of the ceasefire with Hezbollah.
“In the context of the Israeli enemy continuing its attacks and violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty, elements of the enemy forces deliberately brought in settlers to visit an alleged religious shrine in the Abbad Houla area in the south, which represents a blatant violation of Lebanese national sovereignty,” the military said in a statement.
Lebanon yet to secure funds to start rebuilding
Lebanon’s finance minister has told Al Jazeera the government has not secured funds to rebuild after last year’s war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The World Bank estimated direct losses amounting to at least $6.5bn.
Video shows intense Israeli air strikes on south Lebanon
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reports that Israeli occupation aircraft launched consecutive airstrikes on several locations in the south of the country, targeting the hill of Zaghrabin in Jabal Al-Rihan – Jezzine area, as well as launching airstrikes between the towns of Yater and Zeqin.
Video posted by local sources, and verified by Al Jazeera, shows some of the strikes.
Israel targets sites in southern Lebanon: Military
Israel’s military says that it has conducted strikes on “military sites” belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where it said “weapons and rocket launchers” were identified.
“A short while ago, the [Israeli army] conducted intelligence-based strikes on military sites in southern Lebanon belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization in which weapons and rocket launchers belonging to Hezbollah were identified,” the army said in a statement on X, adding that they “constituted a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon”.
“The [army] will continue to act to remove any threat to the State of Israel and prevent any attempt to restore and consolidate the terrorist organization Hezbollah,” the statement continued.
Despite the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel has continued to strike targets in Lebanon regularly, leading international bodies and countries such as France to allege ceasefire violations.
