Israeli attacks turn Nabatieh into ghost town

Nabatieh, historically the commercial hub of southern Lebanon, has been reduced to a ghost town amid a sharp escalation of Israeli air and artillery strikes across the region. The city, once bustling with markets, small factories, and cross‑border trade, now shows empty streets, shuttered shops, and a mass exodus of residents seeking shelter in nearby villages and UN‑run facilities. Satellite imagery and on‑the‑ground reports confirm extensive damage to residential blocks, the main municipal market, and several key road arteries that previously linked Nabatieh to Beirut and the Israeli border.

The intensified campaign follows a series of retaliatory operations launched by Israel in response to rocket fire from Hezbollah‑aligned groups, prompting a humanitarian surge that has strained local aid networks. Lebanese authorities, together with international organizations, are coordinating temporary shelters and limited medical assistance, while the Lebanese Ministry of Finance warns that the loss of Nabatieh’s economic activity could further depress the already fragile national economy. As hostilities continue, the outlook for the city’s recovery remains uncertain, with reconstruction efforts contingent on a de‑escalation of the conflict and the return of displaced residents.