By Emmanuel Bobby
As a fragile ceasefire begins to take hold following an agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at ending months of regional conflict, some residents of southern Lebanon are cautiously returning to their hometowns to assess the devastation left behind by war.
In the historic city of Nabatiyeh, a major cultural and economic center in southern Lebanon, families are sifting through rubble, searching for belongings, and confronting the painful reality of homes, businesses and lives shattered by months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
For many residents, the return is not a sign that normal life has resumed. Instead, it is an opportunity to see what remains after one of the most destructive periods in the city’s modern history.
Family Searches Through Ruins of Destroyed Home
Among those returning was Aida Jleilati and her daughter, Sukaina al-Muhtadi, who spent hours digging through the wreckage of what was once their family home.
The pair arrived early Tuesday morning, hoping to salvage anything that survived an Israeli airstrike that struck their neighborhood in late May.
Their apartment occupied the first floor of a three-story residential building containing six separate units. The strike reduced the structure to a massive pile of concrete, twisted metal and shattered belongings.
As they carefully moved debris by hand, Jleilati recovered some personal items, including clothing and much of her husband’s scuba-diving equipment. Her daughter focused on finding family keepsakes, particularly a treasured photo album filled with childhood memories.
“What can I say? All that we have gathered in our life has been wasted,” Jleilati said while standing amid the ruins.
The family first learned their home had been destroyed through social media images that circulated after the attack.
Since then, they have lived away from the city, waiting for an opportunity to return and see the damage firsthand.
For many displaced families, the experience has been emotionally overwhelming. Every recovered item serves as a reminder of a life interrupted by war.
A City Scarred by Months of Fighting
Nabatiyeh has endured relentless bombardment throughout the latest phase of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Airstrikes, artillery attacks and rocket fire have repeatedly targeted areas surrounding the city, causing extensive destruction and forcing thousands of residents to flee.
Once known for its vibrant markets, busy streets and thriving commercial activity, parts of the city now resemble a disaster zone.
Bulldozers and heavy equipment continue working to clear debris from streets and remove the remains of collapsed buildings.
Entire neighborhoods bear visible scars from months of conflict.
While some residents have begun returning following the ceasefire announcement, many remain reluctant to come back permanently, uncertain whether the fighting will truly end.
Previous ceasefires and temporary truces have collapsed, leading many people to view the latest agreement with caution.
Although military activity has decreased since the announcement of the U.S.-Iran agreement, clashes and artillery exchanges have not completely stopped.
A Historic Center of Culture and Religion
Nabatiyeh occupies a unique place in Lebanon’s history and identity.
For centuries, the city has served as a commercial hub for villages throughout southern Lebanon. Its famous weekly Monday market attracted merchants, farmers and traders from across the region, helping establish Nabatiyeh as one of the area’s most important economic centers.
Beyond its commercial significance, the city has long been regarded as a major center of Shiite religious life.
Since the formation of modern Lebanon following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Nabatiyeh has maintained close religious and cultural ties with important Shiite centers in Iraq, including Najaf and Karbala.
Historians note that scholars from the broader Jabal Amel region, where Nabatiyeh is located, played an influential role in spreading Shiite religious teachings beyond Lebanon’s borders.
The city is also known for its annual Ashoura commemorations, which draw large crowds and hold deep religious significance for Lebanon’s Shiite community.
This year’s observances, however, arrive at a time when many residents are grieving losses caused by war.
Businesses Reduced to Rubble
The destruction has not been limited to residential neighborhoods.
Throughout central Nabatiyeh, commercial districts that once formed the backbone of the local economy have suffered extensive damage.
Seventy-five-year-old businessman Kamel al-Kamel returned to find the building that housed his supermarket and coffee-roasting business nearly destroyed.
The structure, which had stood for generations, was heavily damaged by fire and partially collapsed.
Standing among the ruins, al-Kamel estimated his financial losses at approximately $2.5 million.
The veteran businessman has lived through numerous conflicts, including Lebanon’s civil war, Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982, and multiple rounds of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Yet he described the current conflict as the most devastating he has ever experienced.
“Thank God we are still alive,” he said.
Despite the enormous financial loss, he noted that survival remains the most important thing after months of violence.
Like many residents, he faces the difficult task of rebuilding both his livelihood and his community.
Personal Losses Extend Beyond Property
For many families, material destruction is overshadowed by the loss of loved ones.
Samar Zuraik was relieved to discover that her home remained standing, though it sustained significant damage that will require costly repairs.
Yet the condition of her house mattered little compared with the grief she continues to carry.
Her 27-year-old son, Ali, was killed during an Israeli airstrike near the city.
Standing in her damaged home, Zuraik reflected on the painful tradeoff she would gladly make.
“I wish I lost my house and my son stayed alive,” she said.
Her words capture the reality facing countless families across southern Lebanon, where rebuilding structures may be possible, but replacing lost lives is not.
She added that despite the ceasefire agreement, conditions in Nabatiyeh remain extremely difficult.
Large portions of the city continue to lack electricity, telecommunications and internet access.
Basic services remain disrupted, making daily life challenging even for those who have returned.
Hospitals Struggle Through Heavy Casualties
The war has placed enormous strain on healthcare facilities throughout the region.
The Nabatiyeh area is served by three major hospitals, including Najdeh El Chaabiyeh Hospital, one of the city’s oldest medical institutions.
Throughout the conflict, the hospital treated hundreds of wounded civilians and fighters arriving from nearby battle zones.
Medical director Dr. Shafi Fouani described the latest war as exceptionally severe.
“It was a very harsh war,” he said.
According to hospital officials, approximately 500 deaths were handled through the facility during the fighting, while nearly 1,200 injured patients received treatment.
Many critically wounded patients required transfer to larger hospitals in Beirut or the southern city of Sidon for specialized care.
The scale of casualties has left lasting emotional and physical scars across the region.
Health officials report that thousands of people have been killed throughout Lebanon since the conflict intensified, while many more have suffered injuries, displacement and psychological trauma.
Ceasefire Remains Fragile
Despite diplomatic efforts and the announcement of a broader regional agreement, fighting has not completely ceased.
Artillery fire and rocket attacks were still reported near Nabatiyeh on Tuesday, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the truce.
Israeli forces continue operating in areas south and east of the city, while Hezbollah fighters remain active in nearby regions.
The sound of explosions could still be heard from parts of Nabatiyeh as military operations continued in surrounding areas.
Lebanese security forces have closed certain roads leading toward active combat zones to prevent civilians from entering dangerous territory.
The continuing violence has fueled concerns that the ceasefire could unravel if tensions escalate again.
Hope for Returning Home
As the day came to an end, Jleilati and her daughter prepared to return to temporary accommodations in the Beirut suburbs.
Before leaving, Sukaina discovered one meaningful item among the rubble: a watch her mother had given her during childhood.
The small find provided a rare moment of comfort amid overwhelming destruction.
Although their apartment building no longer exists, both women remain determined to return to Nabatiyeh permanently when conditions allow.
Their plan is to rent a temporary apartment while waiting for reconstruction efforts to begin.
For them, as for many displaced residents, leaving the city forever is not an option.
“We cannot live outside Nabatiyeh,” al-Muhtadi said.
Her words reflect the deep connection many residents feel toward a city that has endured centuries of upheaval yet remains central to their identity, history and sense of home.
As reconstruction efforts slowly begin and diplomats work to preserve the ceasefire, families throughout Nabatiyeh continue balancing hope for peace with uncertainty about what the future may hold.
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