In Nabatieh, first responders sift through the ruins of a lost base

The facility, marked by the international blue triangle and orange circle emblem, was considered off-limits for combatants. Yet, on May 23, the building was leveled in a direct strike. According to regional head Hussein Fakih, nine members of the local civil defence have been killed and 15 wounded since hostilities began on March 2. The unit had already relocated staff following a lethal drone strike near the entrance on May 12, but the total destruction of the headquarters followed weeks later without warning.

Nabatieh remains a focal point of the conflict, with the National Council for Scientific Research reporting over 9,970 housing units damaged or destroyed across the district. While an interim U.S.-Iranian deal initially offered hope for a permanent ceasefire, renewed bombardment has forced residents to flee once again. Local council member Khodr Kodeih estimates that the current devastation exceeds the damage seen in 2024, as Israeli forces attempt to encircle the provincial capital. Despite the escalating pressure and the loss of their primary base, responders continue to return to the site daily to recover whatever fragments of their professional and personal history remain buried in the rubble.