TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — Dust still lingers over the ancient Mediterranean city of Tyre following weeks of relentless Israeli airstrikes that have left the Lebanese coastal city deeply scarred.
Though a fragile quiet has descended on the area, daily life has come to a near-complete standstill.
A fresh ceasefire between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah is now in effect, but residents remain anxious — previous ceasefires have collapsed before. Fear and uncertainty continue to grip the population, even as the United States and Iran hold talks in Switzerland that Lebanese residents are hoping will finally bring stability to their country.
More than 4,000 people in Lebanon have lost their lives in Israeli strikes since the current Israel-Hezbollah conflict erupted in March, two days after the Iran war began, when Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel. The militant group has also engaged in fighting with Israeli forces who have pushed deeper into southern Lebanon than at any point in more than 25 years.
Vast portions of southern Lebanon now lie in ruins — and Tyre is no exception.
In the summer months, Tyre — Lebanon’s fourth largest city — typically draws crowds of tourists who come to relax on its beaches, explore its Roman ruins, dine on fresh seafood at charming waterfront restaurants, and take in the scenery from boat tours.
Today, the scene is starkly different. The few restaurants that remain open sit with empty tables. Parking areas that once overflowed with beachgoers’ cars now serve as makeshift camps, with displaced families living in tents. Fishermen say they are afraid to venture far from the harbor, fearing they could be targeted.
