Any prolonged Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon could breathe new life into Hezbollah, challenging the political momentum of Lebanon’s new president and prime minister.

Israel is slowly withdrawing from Lebanese villages it occupied, as part of a ceasefire deal. Lebanese residents waiting to return to their villages say the Israeli military has destroyed nearly everything.

As the end of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah approaches with neither side having fulfilled its obligations toward an enduring peace, many people in the Middle East wonder what will happen next.