In brief
The bustling market in southern Lebanon faces a grim reality as residents dig through rubble to salvage remnants of their livelihoods following extensive Israeli raids.
In the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, a once-thriving marketplace has been reduced to ruins, leaving its community grappling with profound loss. The historic souk, a vibrant center for vendors and shoppers, was severely damaged during Israeli airstrikes in late September that were part of retaliatory measures against Hezbollah, who had aligned with Hamas after the attacks on Israel in early October 2023.The scene is one of devastation as business owners trickle into the area, each motivated by a shared urgency to salvage anything left amid the wreckage. Among them is Raed Mokaled, 58, who was left to sift through the debris of his optical shop and a co-owned gold and watches store. "Everything is gone," he lamented, describing how an explosion obliterated the buildings that used to host his endeavors.As the carnage unfolded, residents have found solace in their shared resolve to rebuild from the ashes. Clutching remnants of their past, a photo studio operator retrieves dusty negatives alongside his son, while a clothing shop owner drags a bag full of salvaged merchandise. The market, once a hub of daily life, is now eerily silent, the vibrant chatter of customers replaced by the haunting echoes of destruction.Despite a fragile truce announced in November aiming to halt hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the scars of conflict run deep. The community's path to recovery appears daunting, yet their spirit of perseverance stands strong as they navigate the painful road ahead.
