Children return to school destroyed by Zionist strike in Lebanon

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 27, 2026

Students in Burj Qalaway, southern Lebanon, have resumed classes in a damaged, unfinished building after their elementary school was destroyed in an Israeli strike during recent conflicts triggered by Hezbollah attacks. Although a ceasefire has reduced violence, the community faces ongoing challenges with infrastructure rebuilding and the emotional trauma experienced by displaced children.

In southern Lebanon’s Burj Qalaway, students have resumed classes this week under drastically altered conditions after their elementary school was destroyed in a strike attributed to Israeli forces. The attack occurred in May, two months after Hezbollah initiated hostilities by launching attacks across the border into Israel, escalating the latest conflict in the region.

The school, once recognized for its academic excellence, was reduced to rubble, forcing pupils to continue their education in an unfinished nearby building originally intended for preschool children. Eight-year-old Yara Ajami, whose family was displaced during the conflict, described returning to classrooms without desks or chairs and lacking basic facilities such as doors and windows. Bare concrete walls and exposed rebar serve as a stark reminder of the destruction.

Principal May Mehdi said approximately 250 students are currently enrolled, a significant decline from over 600 before the war began in March. She noted the profound emotional toll on the children, many of whom have lost their homes or witnessed significant damage in their communities during the hostilities. “There is sadness in their eyes, each one of them has a story,” Mehdi commented.

The recent conflict was triggered when Hezbollah carried out attacks against Israeli targets in support of Iran, following a series of confrontations involving the United States and Israel targeting Tehran. In response, Israel launched intensive airstrikes and a ground invasion across southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials report more than 4,300 fatalities resulted from the fighting, including 261 children. The hostilities caused the displacement of over one million people, although more than 800,000 have since returned following a reduction in violence.

This relative calm was achieved after a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, coupled with a framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel in June, which helped ease immediate tensions. Despite the ceasefire, communities like Burj Qalaway continue to rebuild amid lingering challenges posed by the destruction of infrastructure and the psychological impact on civilians, particularly children returning to school in compromised environments.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.