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ConflictsLebanon

Israel-Hezbollah war fuels Lebanon's sectarian tensions

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Mohamad Chreyteh in Beirut, Lebanon
April 8, 2026

The conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Shiite militia Hezbollah has displaced over one million Lebanese people and fueled a resurgence of Lebanon's long-standing intercommunal divisions.

Israeli airstrikes have left widespread destruction in Dahiyeh, Hezbollah's stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut, forcing most residents to flee.

However, while Shiite areas of Lebanon's capital face repeated bombardment and mass displacement, nearby Christian neighborhoods remain largely untouched.

With more than one million people displaced and many living on the streets, the conflict is deepening sectarian mistrust.

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