In Qlaileh, the silence of ruins replaces a lifetime of work

The spire of the local mosque remains one of the few structures left standing in a landscape defined by total destruction. Since the fighting erupted on March 2, more than 3,900 people have been killed and 1.2 million displaced across southern Lebanon. Israel maintains that its campaign targeted Hezbollah military infrastructure, but for those returning, the reality is the loss of entire communities and livelihoods.

Hachem’s neighbor, a man he shared morning tea with daily, was killed alongside his son during the bombardment. Hachem insists his friend had no connection to political factions or weapons, viewing the deaths as a senseless toll on non-combatants. The recent interim deal between the United States and Iran provided a brief window to return before hostilities flared again prior to Friday’s ceasefire. Looking at the rubble, Hachem expressed a bitter sentiment about the timing of the diplomacy: such agreements should have arrived before the destruction of so many lives, not after.