Southern Lebanon Liberation Day subdued as Israel reoccupies

Beirut, Lebanon – On May 25, 2000, the last Israeli soldiers pulled out of southern Lebanon, ending an 18-year occupation. That day, known as Liberation Day, became an annual national celebration. This year's commemoration, however, was overshadowed by a new invasion.

“Liberation Day is sacred to us,” Ali Saleh, 55, a native of Jwaya, told Al Jazeera. “It is a day of victory, pride and dignity.” He and his family now live in a makeshift shelter at the Camille Chamoun Stadium on the outskirts of Beirut, after fleeing their home in March when Israel launched a ground offensive.

More than 1.2 million Lebanese have been evacuated, mostly from the south and southern suburbs of Beirut. Israel has invaded Lebanon twice in the past two years. After a November 2024 ceasefire, Israeli forces withdrew from most of the territory but held five positions. Many fear a repeat of a prolonged occupation.

Celebrations amid fighting

On March 2, Hezbollah fired rockets at Israeli targets for the first time in over a year, retaliating for the assassination of Iran's supreme leader. Israel immediately launched a wave of airstrikes and sent troops back into the south. Since then, more than 3,151 people have been killed, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. A new ceasefire, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump in April and due to last until early July, has only reduced bombing in Beirut; rural southern areas continue to be hit.

On May 25, the Israeli air force struck the south, killing three people, and ordered the evacuation of ten more towns and villages. Drones were active in the eastern Baalbek region.

In a Liberation Day speech, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed that the south “wrote an unprecedented chapter of history” by driving out the occupiers through “the resilience and sacrifices of the people.” He announced that the government is negotiating directly with Israel for the first time, with the aim of “a full Israeli withdrawal” from Lebanese territory.

Hezbollah criticizes the government

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, in a televised address, rejected direct talks, saying “indirect negotiations are preferable” and calling for a return to national dialogue rather than aligning with the U.S. and Israel. For the first time, he hinted that the government should resign if it cannot protect sovereignty. The statement drew strong criticism from the U.S. State Department.

Longing for home

The more than 1.2 million displaced people still yearn to return. “I long for the day the south is liberated and the Lebanese detainees in Israel are freed,” Saleh said. Nabil, a native of Markaba – a border town nearly destroyed after Israel set up a military post – now lives in a school in Ras Beirut, but maintains hope: “We are very proud of Liberation Day and that we drove the Israeli enemy out of Lebanon in 2000. God willing, there will be another victory.”