In brief
Amidst the wreckage following Israeli air raids in southern Lebanon, shop owners in Nabatieh strive to recover remnants of their once-thriving market. The strikes, a response to Hezbollah’s aggression, have left profound scars on the community as they navigate the challenging process of rebuilding.
In the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, the echoes of bustling commerce have been replaced by a haunting silence following recent Israeli air strikes. The historic souk, once a vibrant heart of trade and connection, now stands in disarray, a stark reminder of the ongoing regional conflicts.As dawn broke on a chilly December day, shop owners and residents united in a somber mission: to salvage anything left amid the rubble. Stories emerged of resilience as individuals sifted through twisted metal and shattered glass. A photo studio operator carefully collected dust-covered negatives, while a clothes shop owner salvaged leggings trapped beneath mangled rebar. Raed Mokaled, co-owner of an optical store and a gold and watch business, stood among the debris, visibly shaken as he surveyed the obliteration. "Everything is gone," said Mokaled, recalling the moment when an intense explosion left nothing but ruins. The Israeli military's operations were initiated in response to cross-border attacks by Hezbollah, coinciding with heightened tensions following the October 7, 2023, terror incidents in Israel. In a fragile attempt at de-escalation, a 60-day truce was agreed upon in November, but the scars of violence are still vividly etched in the community. Mokaled and his fellow business owners face an uphill battle ahead. While the physical structures of their livelihoods may have crumbled, their determination to rebuild remains unbroken. The people of Nabatieh, now beginning to come to terms with their shattered reality, strive to reclaim a semblance of normalcy from the ashes of conflict, illustrating the resilience of a community facing profound loss.
