**Lebanon Ceasefire Reveals Extensive Damage and Ongoing Trauma**
In the aftermath of a three-month conflict that has left a significant mark on Lebanon, the recent ceasefire between Iran and the United States has brought a temporary halt to hostilities but has also unveiled the extensive destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes. The city of Tyre, a historic site in southern Lebanon, has been particularly hard hit, with many homes, including that of resident Youssef Fares, reduced to rubble.
Fares, who has taken refuge in the Jabal Amel University Hospital since his home was destroyed, expressed his heartbreak upon returning to see the remnants of what was once his cherished residence. “You couldn’t even look at a single room. It was dark from the soot,” he recounted, lamenting the loss of his “beautiful house” in Tyre.
The conflict began on March 2, when Hezbollah fired upon Israel in support of Iran, escalating into a regional war that prompted a fierce Israeli response involving airstrikes and a ground invasion in southern Lebanon. This military campaign was officially aimed at Hezbollah, but it has had devastating consequences for civilians and infrastructure across the region.
The impact of the war has been profound, displacing approximately 1.2 million people throughout Lebanon. Many, like Fares, are unable to return to their homes due to the destruction or ongoing Israeli control of certain areas. The Jabal Amel University Hospital, where Fares currently resides, has become a refuge for at least 350 individuals, including hospital staff and their families, as they navigate the aftermath of the conflict.
Dr. Wael Mroueh, the hospital's director, reported that even medical facilities have not been immune to the violence. An airstrike earlier this month damaged the hospital, and the nearby Hiram Hospital has suffered multiple attacks since the conflict began. According to a United Nations report, healthcare facilities across Lebanon have experienced 203 attacks, resulting in the deaths of over 130 healthcare workers and the closure of numerous primary healthcare sites.
The toll of the conflict has been staggering, with more than 3,700 fatalities and over 11,000 injuries reported between March 2 and June 14, the date the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement was announced. The National Council for Scientific Research in Lebanon has indicated that over 68,000 housing units have been damaged or destroyed during this period, with critical infrastructure such as hospitals, power stations, and water pumping facilities also affected.
As the country grapples with the aftermath, authorities are beginning to explore long-term housing solutions for those whose homes have been obliterated or who remain in occupied areas.
For many residents, the ceasefire has brought a fragile sense of safety. Ahmad, Fares's son, noted that while the fear of immediate danger has lessened, the psychological scars of war remain. “Before, we were afraid of dying, afraid of losing someone. Now, you feel there is a bit of safety,” he said, reflecting on the relative calm compared to the days of relentless bombardment. However, he also expressed the exhaustion that comes from a lifetime of conflict and displacement. “Since I was born, it has been like this. We flee and we return, we return and we flee. We’ve spent our whole lives like this,” Ahmad lamented. “We just get no rest.”
As Lebanon begins to assess the full extent of the destruction and the long-term implications of the recent conflict, the stories of individuals like Youssef and Ahmad Fares highlight the human cost of war and the ongoing struggle for stability in a region marked by cycles of violence.