In southern Lebanon, the human cost of Israel’s latest military strikes came into sharp focus as villagers returned to find their homes reduced to rubble. Abed Hachem, a 46-year-old father of three, had only just rebuilt his house after it was damaged in the 2024 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Now, where his home once stood is nothing but debris; where his garden bloomed, dust covers scattered toys and furniture.
“Oh dear… Oh God. There was a building here… here… there was a building here,” Hachem said, pointing to the hollowed-out shells of neighboring buildings. The spire of the local mosque stands as one of the few structures still upright — a stark symbol of what remains.
