Lebanon Rebuilds 3 South Pilot Zones as Israeli Strikes Undercut State Authority

1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 25

Three pilot zones returned to the Lebanese army have become the state's test case for rebuilding trust in south Lebanon, with the army directly overseeing roads and infrastructure instead of Hezbollah-linked bodies.
That push is colliding with daily Israeli shelling and continued occupation, which officials say make Beirut look unable to protect residents and threaten the entire effort unless Israel sets a withdrawal timetable.
Hezbollah still fills the gap for many families with rent, stipends, school fees, healthcare and aid boxes, giving it a social reach the cash-strapped state cannot match.
The result is a hardened divide: some southerners accuse the government of humiliation and inaction, while others fault Hezbollah for triggering the war and still doubt the state can defend their rights.