Facts about the human and material losses of the conflict in Lebanon and Israel

A ceasefire is expected between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, under an agreement aimed at ending more than a year of fighting sparked by Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip.

Here are some key aspects of the cost of war:

Human losses in Lebanon

On November 24, the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that 3,768 people had been killed and 15,699 others injured since October 8, 2023.

The figures do not distinguish between Hezbollah fighters and civilians. Most of the toll occurred after Israel intensified its offensive last September.

As of last September, Hezbollah had announced the deaths of about 500 of its fighters, but it has stopped announcing more deaths.

The Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, which is closely linked to the military establishment, says Hezbollah has lost 2,450 fighters.

Human losses in Israel

Hezbollah raids killed 45 civilians in northern Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

Israeli authorities said that at least 73 Israeli soldiers were killed in northern Israel, the Golan Heights and in battles in southern Lebanon.

Destruction in Lebanon

The cost of damage to housing in Lebanon is estimated at $2.8 billion, with more than 99,000 housing units partially or completely destroyed, a World Bank report said.

The American University of Beirut's Urban Lab said Israeli airstrikes destroyed at least 262 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs alone.

The Israeli army also caused extensive damage to villages and towns in the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon.

The World Bank report estimated the damage to agriculture at about $124 million and losses of more than $1.1 billion, due to the loss of harvest as a result of the destruction of crops and livestock and the displacement of farmers.

Destruction in Israel

Israeli authorities estimate property damage in Israel at at least 1 billion shekels ($273 million), with thousands of homes, farms and businesses damaged or destroyed.

The lion's share of the damage in Israel occurred in areas adjacent to the Lebanese border that were subjected to missile fire from Hezbollah.

Israeli authorities say Hezbollah missiles have burned about 55,000 acres of forests, nature reserves, parks and open land in northern Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

Displacement on the Lebanese side

The International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said that more than 886,000 people were displaced within Lebanon as of November 18.

UNHCR data showed that more than 540,000 people have fled from Lebanon to Syria since the war began.

Displacement on the Israeli side

In Israel, some 60,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in the north. Reports speak of Israeli towns and settlements being emptied of their residents.

While some of them are staying in hotels in central Israeli cities, many have chosen to flee the war and travel to Western countries.

Economic repercussions in Lebanon

The World Bank, in a report issued on November 14, provided a preliminary estimate of the damage and losses inflicted on Lebanon at approximately $8.5 billion.

Lebanon’s real GDP is expected to contract by around 5.7% in 2024, compared to pre-conflict growth estimates of 0.9%.

The agricultural sector has suffered losses exceeding $1.1 billion over the past 12 months due to the destruction of crops and livestock and the displacement of farmers, especially in the southern regions.

The World Bank said the tourism and hospitality sectors, major contributors to the Lebanese economy, were the hardest hit, with losses amounting to $1.1 billion.

Economic repercussions in Israel

In Israel, the conflict with Hezbollah has exacerbated the economic impact of the war in the Gaza Strip, putting pressure on public finances.

The budget deficit has risen to about 8% of GDP, prompting the three major credit rating agencies to downgrade Israel this year.

The conflict has exacerbated supply chain disruptions, sending inflation to 3.5%, above the central bank's target range of 1-3%.

The central bank kept interest rates high to curb inflation, so mortgage rates remained high and pressures on households increased.

Source: Reuters