Israel destroys Lebanon’s historic Nabatieh market, Ottoman era buildings

Israeli strikes on south Lebanon have destroyed historic buildings and an Ottoman-era market dating back to 1910.

The air strikes on Nabatieh on Saturday night killed at least one person and wounded four others.

Nabatieh has in recent weeks become a refuge for Lebanese people displaced from other areas in the south, however Israeli forces have now warned people to evacuate from there.

Lebanon’s Civil Defence said on Sunday that they were fighting fires raging in 12 residential buildings and 40 shops in the historic souk.

The Lebanese Red Cross also stated that paramedics were searching for bodies amidst the debris and rubble from houses targeted by the strike. They added that at least four paramedics were left with concussion, and two ambulances were damaged.

The strikes also destroyed a historic mosque in the village of Kfar Tibnit, the country’s national news agency reported.

According to various news reports, eyewitnesses said the damage from the strikes was far worse than when Israel targeted the same area in the 2006 war.

The Nabatieh market, which sprawls for around 400 square metres, is known around Lebanon for its architecture. Locals shop there for everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to clothing.

In recent weeks, many would rely on the market to buy essential goods as other areas were targeted by Israeli strikes earlier in the month.

Estimates suggest that only around 2,500 people remain in Nabatieh, with the Nabatieh Traders Association issuing a statement denouncing the attack on the market.

"It was never a military site” the statement said, adding that it was home to the "heritage, memories and efforts of the city’s people and surrounding area".

The area was renowned for its buildings, restaurants and being a centre for social activities.

Nabatieh flourished in the late 19th century, with a long economic and social history. The market served as a centre for agricultural and artisanal products and became important for farmers.

Journalist Kamel Jaber, who lives in the city and has spent years documenting its heritage said the was the "heart of the city", describing it as the link between Sour, Sidon and Jezzine, as well as all other towns and cities in southern Lebanon. The strategic location allowed traders and shopkeepers to gather at the souk and sell their produce.

The strikes also destroyed the last remaining khans, locations where visitors would stay, and the oldest hotel in the city which had been converted into businesses.

Jaber pointed out that from initial photos, the damage done to the souks is likely irreversible.

‘Assault on cultural heritage’

"It's as if my home has been bombed. This is where we grew up and where everyone got to know each other," Ali Taha, a 63-year-old local imam told AFP.

"It is our heart that has been burnt, not just a square made of cement," writer Badia Fahs commented.

Online, many condemned the attacks, calling it an assault on the cultural heritage which formed an essential part of the collective memory of the area.

"Nabatieh’s historic market, which Israel bombed in 2006, has been obliterated tonight. Israel is implementing total erasure in Lebanon," one person said.

"This is pretty awful destruction. This market is ancient, one of the oldest in the country. Every Monday traders & villagers from surrounding villages come to sell & trade their goods here. Though, it is mainly Shiite, Nabatiyeh also has a sizeable Christian community," journalist Hala Jaber wrote.

Several historic homes with traditional Lebanese architecture were also destroyed in the city. One of them was built at the start of the last century and was named after Ghaleb Chahine, who was a minister for a brief period.

Another home destroyed belonged to Mohammad Al-Fadel, another renowned figure in the city.

Hours after the market was hit, air strikes also targeted the Sharhabil and Barja sites, where many displaced people from cities in the south were seeking refuge.

At least 2,255 people have been killed in Lebanon since October 2023, with most of them, around 1,400, killed since late September, Lebanon’s health ministry has said.