In brief
Residents of Nabatieh, Lebanon, confront profound loss as the historic souk, a vital hub for commerce, is ravaged by Israeli airstrikes in response to recent conflicts.
In the tranquil town of Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, the air is thick with sorrow after brutal Israeli airstrikes destroyed the city's cherished market. Once a lively gathering place for shoppers and vendors, the souk now lies in ruins, a shadow of its former self.On a cold December morning, business owners arrived at the rubble, determined to salvage what little remained. Raed Mokaled, 58, reminisced about what he lost, including his optical shop that shared space with a gold and watches store. “Everything is gone,” he lamented, recalling the moment he witnessed an orange fireball engulf his livelihood.The Israeli military's attacks began as retaliation against Hezbollah, aimed at stopping their aggression that had intensified following Hamas's terror attacks on October 7, 2023. A brief truce initiated in November has temporarily quelled the violence, but for the residents of Nabatieh, the scars of destruction remain stark and painful.
