BEIRUT – In Beirut’s southern suburbs, where Israeli strikes reduced a building complex to a metal shell, student Rana walked towards her home, though like many others she fears the full-scale eruption of war again.

The Israelis “are not reliable, they can strike again at any moment”, said the young woman, refusing to give her full name.

As though to confirm her fears, Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs again on May 6 – the first there since massive deadly strikes across Lebanon on April 8.

A source close to Hezbollah confirmed that one of the group’s commanders was killed in the strike.

“We just want to avoid being displaced again,” said the 20-year-old.

Despite a ceasefire with Hezbollah that began on April 17, Israeli strikes have continued, mainly targeting southern Lebanon, though Beirut and its southern suburbs – where Hezbollah holds sway – had been spared until now.

But even so, many of the tens of thousands of displaced avoided returning to their homes in the suburbs, fearing a sudden resumption of the large-scale strikes that thrashed the area during the latest war.

Hezbollah, which has also continued to claim attacks on Israeli soldiers and territory, has not given residents the green light to return home to the suburbs, where Israeli drones continue to hover.

“It’s a lot of exhaustion and sadness,” Ms Rana told AFP during a press tour organised by Hezbollah.

She described the fight between Hezbollah and Israel as “a battle between good and evil”.

A Hezbollah supporter requesting anonymity meanwhile admitted that “people are still afraid”.