Inside the city of grief hit hardest by Israel strikes on southern Lebanon

What Happened

On the eve of Ashura, about 200 residents gathered in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, for the religious commemoration, marking the first return since the city was devastated by over 100 days of Israeli airstrikes and ground operations during the Hezbollah-Israel war. The ceremony, normally attended by up to 30,000 people, occurred amid widespread destruction: most of Nabatieh's 80,000 residents remain displaced, and martyr posters of Hezbollah fighters line the streets. Civil defence volunteers cleared rubble from the central mosque in just two days after a ceasefire reportedly brokered by the US and Iran was announced on Monday. On Friday morning, however, Hezbollah fire killed four Israeli soldiers in the occupied 'security zone' adjacent to the city, and Israel responded with a wave of airstrikes on Nabatieh and surrounding areas, killing 18 and wounding 33, according to the report. Israeli artillery and drone activity continued, and the Lebanese army blocked roads to upper Nabatieh after Israeli forces fired on returning residents. Despite the ceasefire, sporadic shelling persisted, and civil defence crews were still pulling bodies from previously inaccessible rubble sites.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The Ashura commemoration in Nabatieh vividly illustrates the human and sectarian toll of the Hezbollah-Israel war on Lebanon's Shia heartland. The ceremony's diminished yet defiant observance underscores the community's trauma and resilience, while the immediate resumption of hostilities after a fragile ceasefire highlights the tenuous security situation. The destruction of Nabatieh, a key Hezbollah support base, and the displacement of its population reflect broader strategic and demographic consequences that will shape the implementation of any lasting ceasefire framework and Hezbollah's post-war standing in Lebanese society.

Watch For

Monitor the stability of the ceasefire, particularly Israeli troop movements near the Ali Taher hill and within the occupied security zone, as well as Hezbollah's willingness to adhere to the truce. Watch for the Lebanese army's role in securing return routes and preventing further clashes. Humanitarian developments to track include civil defence recovery of bodies from previously inaccessible sites and the number of displaced residents attempting to return to Nabatieh, as renewed violence may prolong displacement. Diplomatic engagements by the US and Saudi Arabia to solidify the ceasefire framework will be critical in preventing a collapse.