As dawn illuminated the ruins of Beirut on Wednesday, residents returned to our neighborhoods to confront the aftermath of the most devastating war in Lebanon in decades. For many, like Hussein Nassour, destruction was total: homes reduced to rubble, businesses obliterated, and lives irrevocably changed.
Israel’s airstrikes had left his family’s market in ruins, destroyed surrounding homes, and blown apart his apartment’s windows and doors. “We did not win. We lost,” Nassour said, reflecting the despair felt by many Lebanese.
Ceasefire brought a moment of relief, offering displaced families an opportunity to return and assess our losses. Yet, for those who returned to find their homes shattered, devastation underscored the profound human and economic toll of war, which killed over 3,800 people, displaced more than a million and caused billions in damage.
A Nation in Ruins
In Beirut and across Lebanon, families sifted through debris, searching for remnants of their lives. Zubaida Amru, standing atop the ruins of her home, found only fragments of her past—a destroyed oven and pieces of furniture that once belonged to her late far. “It is not just your possessions,” she said. “It’s the way that you felt walking through your own home.”
Destruction was most severe in predominantly Shiite areas, where Hezbollah operates and enjoys significant support. Se areas bore the brunt of Israeli airstrikes during the conflict, which began after Hezbollah launched attacks in support of Hamas following the October 7 assault on Israel.
Conflicting Narratives of Victory and Loss
While the war’s devastation was evident, Hezbollah and its supporters declared the cease-fire a victory. “cease-fire, of course, is a victory for the blood of martyrs,” said Manal Hamadeh, a shop owner whose business was destroyed.
Her sentiment contrasted sharply with grief over the assassination of Hezbollah’s long-time leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in September, a loss that many supporters described as immeasurable.
Yet, amid declarations of triumph, residents expressed fears of renewed violence. “We’re not feeling victory,” said Mohammad el Zein, who returned to his damaged apartment in Tyre. “I don’t think it’s over yet.”
Challenges Ahead
road to recovery will be steep. Many displaced families returned to towns and villages to find their homes reduced to rubble. Along the highway to southern Lebanon, scenes of optimism quickly gave way to a grim reality: piles of wreckage, shattered storefronts, and warnings from the Lebanese Army about unexploded bombs.
For residents like Maryam Shoaib, the joy of returning home was tinged with dread. “Heartbreak awaits us in the village,” she said.
cCease-fire while halting immediate hostilities, offers no guarantees of lasting peace. As Lebanon begins the daunting task of rebuilding, scars of this conflict will remain, both in its physical devastation and in the collective psyche of its people.
A lingering question for many, like Nassour, is whether sacrifices and destruction were worth it. For now, the prevailing sentiment is one of loss, uncertainty, and a fragile hope for better days ahead.
- Ben Gvir urges Netanyahu to keep fighting in Lebanon and reoccupy Gaza The Times of Israel.
- With Joy and Tears, Lebanese Return Home: ‘Look at All the Destruction’ The New York Times
- Opinion | Netanyahu reached a cease-fire with Hezbollah. Why not with Hamas? The Washington Post
