Tyre Struggles to Recover as Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Holds

TYRE, Lebanon — Lebanon’s historic coastal city of Tyre is attempting to recover after weeks of Israeli airstrikes, but residents say daily life remains paralyzed despite a new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

The Tyre Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire has brought a temporary reduction in violence, yet many residents remain uncertain about whether the truce will last. Previous ceasefires have collapsed, leaving communities across southern Lebanon skeptical about prospects for lasting peace.

More than 4,000 people in Lebanon have been killed since the latest conflict escalated in March. Large areas of southern Lebanon, including Tyre, have suffered extensive destruction, displacement and economic disruption.

A City Waiting for Stability

Normally one of Lebanon’s busiest summer destinations, Tyre attracts visitors to its beaches, Roman ruins and waterfront restaurants. This year, however, much of the city remains quiet.

Restaurants sit largely empty. Tourist activity has nearly vanished. Areas once filled with vacationers now house displaced families living in temporary shelters.

Many residents who fled nearby villages have not returned home, fearing that fighting could resume at any moment.

Ali Bazzi, whose home in the village of Toura was destroyed during the conflict, has spent months living aboard a small tour boat in Tyre’s harbor while selling sandwiches to support himself.

“Every day they tell us there’s a truce or ceasefire. Where is this truce? We can’t see it,” Bazzi said.

Destruction Across Historic Neighborhoods

Damage is visible throughout the city.

Entire buildings have been reduced to rubble, while others remain partially standing with significant structural damage. Memorial posters honoring civilians, medical workers and Hezbollah fighters killed during the war line streets and damaged buildings.

Residents recall the intense Israeli bombardment that followed evacuation warnings issued earlier this month. Many describe the city as a ghost town during the height of the attacks.

Even after the ceasefire, the sound of military aircraft continues to generate anxiety among residents who remain traumatized by the fighting.

Ancient Heritage Sites Suffer Damage

The conflict has also impacted some of Tyre’s most important archaeological landmarks.

Nearby airstrikes damaged areas surrounding the remains of a Roman-era citadel. Falling debris knocked decorative capitals from ancient columns and damaged portions of a historic Roman road that has survived for centuries.

Employees at Lebanon’s Directorate General of Antiquities are assessing the extent of the damage and hope restoration efforts can begin soon.

“The city of Tyre is 5,000 years old, and what happened to it is huge,” said antiquities employee Adnan Istanbuli.

Tyre is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains one of the most historically significant cities in the Mediterranean region.

Environmental Losses Add to the Damage

The war has also affected the environment along Lebanon’s southern coastline.

The protected shoreline at Mansouri, known for sea turtle nesting grounds and wildlife conservation efforts, became inaccessible after nearby strikes.

Environmental activist Mona Khalil, who spent decades protecting the area’s marine ecosystem, died recently from injuries sustained when an Israeli strike hit her home.

Her death has become a symbol of the broader humanitarian and environmental toll of the conflict.

Hospital Staff Describe New Fears

Healthcare workers in Tyre say the latest war has changed how they view their own safety.

Jabal Amel Hospital, one of the city’s largest medical centers, suffered significant damage when nearby buildings were struck by Israeli airstrikes. Windows shattered, doors were blown off their hinges and smoke filled sections of the facility.

Medical staff continued treating patients during the attacks, but many say they no longer feel protected inside hospitals.

“We used to be scared, but we’re a lot more scared now,” intensive care nurse Khadeeja Yousef said.

Cardiologist Mohammad Nassar also lost his private clinic during the conflict and continues searching through debris for his extensive collection of medical books.

Ceasefire Holds Amid Uncertainty

Although the Tyre Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire remains largely intact, questions about its long-term viability persist.

Negotiations involving Israel and Lebanon continue in Washington, while Hezbollah remains outside the formal talks and opposes efforts to disarm the group.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue to maintain positions in parts of southern Lebanon near the border. Residents in Tyre can still see smoke from distant military activity and observe Israeli positions from the coastline.

For many civilians, the ceasefire has not yet translated into a sense of security.

As diplomatic efforts continue, Tyre’s residents remain caught between hopes for peace and fears that another round of conflict could begin at any moment.