Despite ceasefire, instability abounds in Lebanon, experts say

Wednesday's Israel-Lebanon ceasefire may have brought the air raids to an end, but experts say Lebanon's rubble and devastation, along with its domestic political crisis, may hold it back for years to come.

"Many of the country's displaced may not be able to return home for months, as Israel has razed entire villages near the blue line border," David Wood, senior analyst for Lebanon at the International Crisis Group, said. "Meanwhile, Hezbollah's domestic foes claim they will no longer accept the group's dominance over Lebanese politics - a pledge that promises still more instability."

"The challenges are the same as 18 years ago, namely: how to make sure that both parties comply [with the ceasefire] in the long term, and what to do with Hezbollah’s military capabilities, which constitute a threat to the security of Israel, and potentially other Lebanese, whether they are present on the border or a few kilometres away," Heiko Wimmen, project director for Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon at the International Crisis Group, said.