The attack, which killed a senior Hezbollah figure near the Burj al-Barajneh refugee camp, revived collective memories of the devastation that swept through Beirut’s southern suburbs only a year ago.
Residents recall how nearby bunker-buster strikes shook homes so violently that families fled, convinced their buildings would collapse.
Last year’s war left Lebanon physically and socially battered.
Entire villages in the south were levelled, and others suffered heavy destruction even after the ceasefire took effect.
More than 4,000 people were killed and over 1.2 million displaced.
The World Bank estimated that Lebanon now faces roughly $11bn in reconstruction needs.
The Israeli regime has continued near-daily attacks across southern Lebanon, killing more than 120 civilians since the ceasefire.
It has refused to withdraw from several occupied points along the border, undermining its own obligations and fueling doubts about its intentions.
Despite pressure from Israel and the United States, Hezbollah has rejected calls for disarmament, arguing that Israel’s ongoing violations make such demands untenable.
Israeli officials claim Hezbollah is regrouping and accuse the Lebanese state and army of failing to move quickly enough against the group.
Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qomati said the latest Israeli strike crossed a “red line” and that a response was under consideration.
Lebanese analyst Michael Young noted that Israel may be overstating the threat to justify future attacks.
Across Beirut, residents describe an atmosphere of dread.
People in neighborhoods hit repeatedly last year fear another offensive.
Parents say their children tremble at night, and rumors circulate that other refugee camps could be targeted next.
In the south, fear is even more pervasive.
Large areas remain inaccessible due to Israeli gunfire from occupied positions.
Villages sit half-empty, their residents displaced or too afraid to return.
Those who have rebuilt live under constant overflight of drones and warplanes, convinced the Israeli regime may strike again or attempt another ground incursion.
Many southerners say they will not flee if a new war erupts, having exhausted their savings rebuilding homes only to face the prospect of renewed displacement.
Others fear the psychological toll of reliving shelter conditions and wartime deprivation.
As talk of escalation dominates public life, the expectation of another Israeli assault hangs heavily over the country, deepening the sense that Lebanon is trapped in an unresolved and escalating cycle of violence.