Beirut port blast anniversary overshadowed by new wave of destruction | Israel attacks Lebanon News
Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, Lebanon — Each year on August 4 since 2020, the families of victims of a catastrophic explosion at the Beirut port gather to remember the tragedy, which ranks among the largest non-nuclear blasts in modern history. They continue to seek justice and accountability from Lebanese authorities for the explosion, which was caused by ammonium nitrate stored unsafely with highly flammable materials.
Despite changes in political leadership that promised to support an independent judicial investigation, no accountability has been established for the incident that claimed over 200 lives.
This year, instead of attending the memorial, I found myself in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, a small town in southern Lebanon devastated by ongoing Israeli airstrikes and shelling amid a conflict with the Lebanese group Hezbollah. For residents attempting to rebuild their lives, the path forward seems almost impossible.
The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began in October 2023 and has escalated intermittently, with significant intensification occurring in September 2024 and again in early March 2026, following the outbreak of hostilities involving the U.S. and Iran. Many in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh were still grappling with the repercussions of earlier attacks when they faced new bombardments, resulting in further displacement.
The damage in the town is extensive, with most homes rendered uninhabitable. I witnessed an elderly man weeping as he showed me the rubble of his former home. “I feel humiliated,” he shared, expressing the harsh reality of having to salvage scrap metal from his destroyed property to survive.
Lebanon’s situation has been exacerbated by a severe economic crisis, which began in 2019, causing the local currency and banking sector to falter. Political leaders have failed to implement essential financial reforms to secure international aid.
The estimated cost of reconstruction following the latest conflict could reach $20 billion, although officials acknowledge this figure might be conservative. I have traveled through southern Lebanon in the weeks following a recent de-escalation of violence. Numerous villages are in ruins; basic services are scarce, and some areas lack any telecommunication infrastructure.
Access to many villages remains restricted due to the presence of the Israeli military, where homes continue to be demolished and essential facilities destroyed. The ongoing destruction occurs despite an alleged ceasefire and a framework agreement with Lebanon, a highly controversial decision made by Lebanese officials to engage in direct talks with Israel.
Reconstruction Challenges
When conflicts escalated in March 2026, reconstruction from the previous fighting in 2024 had yet to begin. According to the World Bank, the 2024 conflict resulted in losses estimated at $11 billion—a sum the nearly bankrupt Lebanese government lacks the resources to cover. International donors have not offered aid, often conditioning reconstruction assistance on the disarmament of Hezbollah.
In the 15 months following a November 2024 ceasefire, the Israeli military targeted recovery efforts in southern Lebanon. Israeli airstrikes destroyed heavy machinery and construction equipment, hampering efforts to assist displaced residents.
As the country marks the sixth anniversary of the Beirut blast, the destruction continues. The toll from the current conflict has again forced many Lebanese to grapple with rebuilding their lives on their own.
In al-Mansouri, a town on the front lines, municipal leader Haidar Mudayhi warned against approaching nearby hills, stating, “The Israelis drop stun grenades every time someone tries to reach those areas … every day, there is machine-gun fire around the village … recently, there were airstrikes in the hills … there is no stability.”
The situation remains precarious, as no definitive agreement exists to prevent further hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The recent ceasefire lacks a commitment or timeline for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, leaving residents in a state of uncertainty.
