Rescue workers salvage remnants of destroyed Nabatieh headquarters

Hussein Daqdouq sifts through the pulverized concrete of what was once the Nabatieh civil defence headquarters, searching for archives and personal belongings among the wreckage. The facility, marked by the distinctive blue triangle and orange circle of the civil defence, was reduced to rubble by an Israeli airstrike last month.

Editorial·June 18, 2026·reads: 2,587

Rescue workers salvage remnants of destroyed Nabatieh headquarters

The destruction of the Nabatieh centre followed a pattern of escalating danger for first responders in the region. Regional head Hussein Fakih noted that nine members of the service have been killed and 15 wounded since hostilities began on March 2. The building was abandoned shortly after a May 12 drone strike killed two personnel nearby, but its complete annihilation on May 23 left staff without their vital equipment or records.

While the Israeli military maintains that it targets only Hezbollah operatives and denies aiming at medical or civilian infrastructure, local officials dispute these claims. Malek Zineddine, a team member, emphasized that the site was clearly marked and carried no military function. The impact on the city is extensive; data from Lebanon’s National Council for Scientific Research indicates that the Nabatieh district suffered the highest level of housing destruction in the country between March and mid-May, with nearly 10,000 units damaged. Despite recent attempts by residents to return, renewed bombardment has forced many to flee once again, leaving the city’s infrastructure in ruins.