Israeli strikes leave Lebanon's ancient city of Tyre reeling despite ceasefire hopes

Weeks after intense Israeli airstrikes battered Lebanon's ancient coastal city of Tyre, residents are struggling to rebuild their lives amid a fragile ceasefire and lingering fears that fighting could resume at any moment.Although a new ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group has taken effect, uncertainty continues to dominate daily life in the historic Mediterranean city. Residents remain wary after previous truces collapsed, while ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the United States and Iran have yet to convince many that lasting peace is within reach.More than 4,000 people in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli strikes since the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict erupted in March, two days after the Iran war began and Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel.

Large parts of southern Lebanon, including Tyre, have suffered extensive damage.Known for its beaches, Roman ruins, seafood restaurants and vibrant summer tourism, Tyre now presents a starkly different picture.Many restaurants remain closed, parking lots once packed with tourists have been converted into temporary camps for displaced families, and fishermen say they are reluctant to venture far into the Mediterranean for fear of being targeted.

"Every day they tell us there’s a truce or ceasefire. Where is this truce? We can’t see it," said Ali Bazzi, 31, whose home in nearby Toura was destroyed in an Israeli strike.Like many displaced residents, Bazzi has sought refuge in Tyre and remains unwilling to return home until the security situation improves. He now sleeps on a mattress aboard a tour boat and earns a living by selling sandwiches from a small stand near the port.Israel issued evacuation warnings for Tyre in early June before launching heavy strikes across the city, saying it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. Bazzi recalled the city becoming deserted as residents fled ahead of the bombardment.Even after the ceasefire, residents remain on edge whenever Israeli aircraft are heard overhead.The conflict has also left its mark on Tyre's rich historical heritage.Across the city, damaged and partially collapsed buildings stand alongside memorial posters honouring civilians, paramedics and Hezbollah fighters killed in the conflict.Several buildings adjacent to the remains of a second-century citadel were struck during the fighting. Falling debris damaged Roman columns and sections of an ancient Roman road that have stood for centuries."We’re waiting for a committee to come and inspect it," said Adnan Istanbuli of Lebanon's Directorate General of Antiquities. "The city of Tyre is 5,000 years old, and what happened to it is huge."Environmental damage has also raised concerns. In nearby Mansouri, a coastal wildlife reserve known for sea turtles and other species has become inaccessible following Israeli strikes.

Environmental activist Mona Khalil later died from injuries sustained when her home was hit.Medical workers in Tyre say the latest conflict has been among the most frightening they have experienced.At Jabal Amel Hospital, staff are repairing facilities damaged when an Israeli strike hit a building across the street. Hospital workers said previous wars rarely brought attacks so close to medical facilities.Doors and windows were blown out, while smoke filled parts of the hospital as doctors and nurses rushed to treat casualties."We used to be scared, but we’re a lot more scared now," said intensive care unit nurse Khadeeja Yousef.Cardiologist Mohammad Nassar said his clinic was destroyed in the strikes. While sorting through the rubble, he searched for hundreds of books he had collected over three decades."I don’t care about any heart monitoring machines or anything else, but the books are dear to my heart," he said.Despite the pause in hostilities, residents say signs of conflict remain visible.Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon continue in Washington, although Hezbollah is not participating and remains opposed to efforts aimed at disarming the group.Meanwhile, large areas south of Tyre remain under Israeli control up to the United Nations-demarcated Blue Line separating the two countries.In recent days, smoke from Israeli artillery fire has been visible from Tyre's shoreline, while an Israeli flag could be seen flying on a distant hilltop, serving as a reminder to residents that the future remains uncertain despite the ceasefire.