Families witness widespread destruction upon returning to southern Lebanon

A family of four stood in the street, facing a mass of twisted metal and shattered concrete, struggling to comprehend the extensive devastation. A recent Israeli air strike had destroyed the building, with smoke still rising from the debris. The adjacent structure to the right had partially collapsed, and the building behind it displayed a large opening at its top. The family continued towards their former residence in Tyre, located in southern Lebanon. This displaced family had returned mere hours after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect. Their home appeared to have been unoccupied during their absence. Lacking electricity, they ascended the stairs to the sixth floor, using their phone flashlights for illumination. Mohamad Marouf guided his wife and two sons. He encountered difficulty opening the main door. Upon gaining entry, he immediately understood that his home, as he remembered it, was temporarily lost. Mr Marouf, a car dealer, stated, “I’m so sad, it’s a nice and decent house.” He added, “There’s just so much damage.” Ceiling panels had detached. Windows, doors, and furnishings were ruined. In the kitchen, shattered cups and plates lay scattered across the floor. Dust and debris covered every surface. Moving through each room, he lamented items that were irreparable while finding solace in those that had miraculously survived. Mr Marouf attributed the damage to an assault on a nearby residential structure. The force of this attack was so significant that his own building also sustained considerable harm. He expressed, “I don’t know what to do.” The family was currently residing with his brother, uncertain of when they could return to their home. Along Tyre’s beachfront, a yellow banner featuring a Hezbollah emblem was erected beside one of numerous damaged residential buildings. The banner bore the inscription, “Made in USA,” implying the likely origin of the munitions employed in the assault. With the cessation of hostilities maintained, inhabitants began returning to their severely damaged residences. Throughout Wednesday, a continuous stream of vehicles arrived, laden with families, luggage, and mattresses. Some individuals displayed Hezbollah flags; in the distance, occasional celebratory gunfire could be heard. Numerous supporters interpret the ceasefire as an indication of the group’s triumph. They assert that the “resistance,” a common designation for Hezbollah, halted the Israeli military’s ground incursions, and that Israel did not accomplish its goals in Lebanon. This perspective, however, is unlikely to garner significant support beyond its proponents. Hezbollah is perceived as weakened, substantial areas of the nation are devastated, and many, including those who blamed the group for involving Lebanon in a conflict detrimental to its interests, contend that the war has resulted solely in fatalities and devastation. Lebanon’s health ministry reported nearly 4,000 deaths and over 16,000 injuries. The hostilities commenced in October 2023 when Iran-backed Hezbollah initiated rocket fire into Israel, expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The situation intensified considerably in September, marked by intensive Israeli air strikes, the assassinations of several senior Hezbollah commanders, including its long-serving leader Hassan Nasrallah, and a ground offensive in the southern region. Israel’s declared objective was to dislodge the group from the border area and facilitate the return of approximately 60,000 displaced inhabitants. Israeli shelling primarily targeted predominantly Shia Muslim regions of the country, areas largely under Hezbollah’s command. Over one million individuals were compelled to evacuate their residences. A 60-day cessation of hostilities is currently active, forming part of a ceasefire agreement that many anticipate will conclude the conflict. The provisions of this agreement stipulate that Israel and Hezbollah will withdraw from the south, a long-standing Hezbollah bastion, and the Lebanese military will deploy an extra 5,000 troops to the zone. That morning, Hezbollah arranged a media tour for journalists to highlight the devastation near Tyre, indicating their continued presence and authority in the area. Hussein Jashi, a Hezbollah MP, declared, “We’re unbeatable,” standing amidst the debris of a water pumping station demolished by an air strike. He added, “All this destruction is worth nothing if you are proud and dignified. This [destruction] doesn’t defeat a man as long as one has the will to fight.” Deed Badawi’s restaurant, established over 80 years prior, was among the tour’s locations. He commented, “They destroy, we build again. It was a beautiful restaurant, and I love it so much.” He further vowed, “I’ll rebuild it even more beautiful than it was.” Adjacent to the restaurant, Mr Yaser, who preferred not to disclose his full name, was tidying his corner shop, which had just reopened. He stated, “I’m very emotional. You can’t describe the damage and the losses of people.” He continued, “This is not the Tyre that we know. We lost too many loved ones. But now we will reunite with the ones still alive, and wait and see what happens next.” The process of recovery is anticipated to be challenging and expensive. The methods of reconstruction and funding sources remain unknown. Mr Marouf, the car dealer, expressed an expectation that Hezbollah would assist him in repairing the damage. He concluded, “May God protect us all.”