In brief
Following a series of destructive air raids by Israel on the city of Nabatieh, Lebanese residents are left to sift through the ruins of their beloved market, contemplating the deep impact of the devastation as they attempt to salvage what they can.
In the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, the vibrant sounds of commerce have been replaced by a haunting silence as residents confront the aftermath of severe airstrikes that have left their historic souk in ruins. The bustling market, once a hub for shop owners and a gathering place for people from all over Lebanon, now lies in ruins following intense Israeli military actions.As dawn broke on a cold December day, local business owners began to arrive at the devastated market, driven by a shared determination to salvage any remnants of their livelihoods. Among them was a photo studio operator who, alongside his son, sifted through the debris searching for salvaged negatives and camera lenses. Nearby, a storekeeper pulled leggings from beneath twisted metal and concrete, with each movement amplifying the painful reality of their situation.The destruction is nearly total, according to local shop owner Raed Mokaled, 58. He confirmed that both his optical business and a gold and watch store, co-owned with his brother, were lost to flames ignited by an aerial bombardment, a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict in the region. “Everything is gone,” Mokaled lamented, describing the devastating impact of an “orange ball of fire” that engulfed his establishments.The Israeli military initially deployed air raids in late September as a retaliation against Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group responsible for numerous attacks in solidarity with Hamas following the broader escalations in violence that erupted after the traumatic October 7 terror attacks in Israel. A tenuous ceasefire, negotiated in November, currently prevails, offering a fragile pause in the hostilities.Despite the ongoing turmoil, the resilience of the people is evident as they sift through debris with heavy hearts, grappling with profound loss yet holding onto memories of a once-thriving community marketplace that held immeasurable significance for so many.
