Lebanese Cities Grapple with Growing Tension Amid Heaviest Hezbollah-Israel Clashes

Lebanese residents felt partial relief after one of the largest exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military occurred, marking a significant episode in a 10-month conflict. Hezbollah's recent assaults and Israel's retaliatory strikes escalated fears of a regional war and severely impacted Lebanon's tourism industry.

Residents of Lebanese cities felt only partial relief on Monday following one of the largest exchanges of fire between the armed group Hezbollah and the Israeli military. The region has been worn down by the relentless tension of a 10-month conflict.

Early Sunday, Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at Israel in retaliation for the killing of a commander by an Israeli strike last month. Israeli jets then targeted dozens of locations in south Lebanon, which residents described as feeling like an 'apocalypse'. There were fears that this exchange, the most intense since hostilities began, could trigger a regional conflict.

By the end of the day, both sides seemed to signal a temporary end to the episode. 'People are relieved, or relieved a bit, because they took a breather after this attack,' said Mohamed Ftouni, a shop owner in Tyre. 'We hope for a ceasefire to allow commercial activities to resume. Hezbollah has vowed to continue firing until there's a ceasefire in Gaza.' Talks have yet to produce a truce.

The intensity of the fighting has displaced tens of thousands along the Lebanese-Israeli frontier and negatively impacted Lebanon's vital tourism sector. Fears of escalation intensified after a strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights killed 12 young people last month. Israeli military assassinated Hezbollah's top commander Fuad Shukr, leading to Hezbollah's vow of vengeance. Sunday's exchange seemed to return the conflict to a previous pace, with Hezbollah and Israeli strikes resuming by Monday.

'The situation is now back to what it was before,' said Ibrahim Hussein, another shop owner in Tyre. Yet, many Lebanese remain rattled. Israeli jets broke the sound barrier over Beirut on Monday, shaking glass across the city. 'I'd rather there be a war than constant tension,' stated Talal Sidani, an artisanal shop owner. 'Without tourism, our livelihoods are at stake.'

(With inputs from agencies.)