The southern Lebanese city of Tyre continues to grapple with the aftermath of ongoing conflict, as residents attempt to rebuild amid widespread destruction and loss. The recent hostilities between Israel and militant groups have left the city scarred, with damaged infrastructure, shattered homes, and a toll on both civilian lives and essential services.

Business owners like coffee shop proprietor Mr. al-Dahab, who invested heavily in their establishments before the fighting, now face the daunting task of recovery in neighborhoods once vibrant but rendered desolate. "The candle of life has been switched off from this neighborhood," he reflected, symbolizing the profound disruption to daily life.

Tyre has experienced a steady stream of funerals in recent months, marking the human cost of the conflict. Medical and emergency personnel have been particularly affected. Lebanese Civil Defense workers responding to initial strikes have sometimes been targeted in follow-up Israeli air operations, known as double-tap strikes, according to Lebanese health officials and human rights organizations. Israel has maintained that these strikes target militants, though it has not always provided supporting evidence and has said some incidents are under investigation. Lebanon’s health ministry reports that more than 130 medical workers have died since the war began.

Funerals in Tyre have become somber communal events, underscoring the widespread sense of mourning. Among those killed was Hussein al-Sati, a civil defense responder struck down in April while attending to victims of an airstrike. His funeral drew grief-stricken family members, including his 4-year-old daughter, Tala, who called her father a "hero" before breaking down and expressing a desire to leave for Beirut.

Despite the damage and loss, Tyre has seen tentative signs of normalcy return following a fragile ceasefire reached in June. Restaurants, cafes, clothing stores, and vegetable markets have reopened, though many stalls remain sparsely stocked due to the devastation of farming in southern Lebanon. Fishermen have begun to repair their boats, while families displaced by conflict carry back only the possessions they could flee with. Traders like Bassam Nuwayri stress the importance of maintaining a presence on their land despite challenges.

Not all residents have been able or willing to return. Zakia al-Or, 87, fled Tyre early in the fighting and now shelters with family in Sidon. Having lived through the 2024 conflict and the current war, she described repeated losses of home and security and lamented the enduring cycle of violence. With limited access to medication and in physical pain, she expressed openness to relocating abroad to find peace, underscoring the widespread despair felt by many.

Hospitals in Tyre have operated under severe strain, facing shortages of supplies and damage from airstrikes. Jabal Amel Hospital suffered damage to its laboratory in June after an Israeli strike hit a nearby building. A month earlier, a nearby strike affected parts of Hiram Hospital, including operating rooms, though staff successfully evacuated at least four newborns. Medical personnel describe ongoing fear as they care for patients with severe injuries, including children and farmers wounded in the strikes.

While daily life has slowly resumed—with families enjoying gatherings along the Mediterranean shore and tradespeople rebuilding storefronts—the threat of intermittent shelling and drone surveillance persists, reminding residents of their precarious situation. For many, the process of recovery is intertwined with coping with deep personal loss.

“I lost everything,” said Mr. al-Dahab, reflecting on the toll of the conflict. “But it’s also a miracle that I am still alive.”