In the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, the Jawhari family is facing unimaginable devastation after their home was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike on Nov. 1. The once-vibrant gathering place for generations now lies in ruins, leaving the family shattered and struggling to come to terms with the loss.
Following the U.S.-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the Jawhari family, like many others, returned to check on their properties only to find a gaping crater where their home once stood. The airstrikes, which have been ongoing for the past two months, have left a trail of destruction across eastern and southern Lebanon, displacing nearly 1.2 million people.
As the family sifted through the rubble of their home, they uncovered fragments of their past life. A worn letter brought a moment of joy, while a photo of their late father triggered tears. Reda Jawhari, a craftsman who built the house, left behind a legacy of metalwork that the family is determined to preserve.
The sisters reminisced about the love and joy that filled their home, where music, dance, and traditional dabke were part of their daily life. The sudden destruction of their world has left them reeling, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of their loss.
Despite their determination to salvage what they can, the pain of losing their home and the memories tied to it remains raw. Rouba Jawhari expressed regret over not taking her parents' photos with them, as they never imagined the extent of the destruction that would befall their home.
Neighboring homes, like that of Ali Wehbe, also fell victim to the airstrikes. Wehbe, who narrowly escaped the destruction, mourned the loss of his home and the memories it held. Each brick, each book in his library, carried stories that are now buried under the rubble.
The Jawhari family and others in Baalbek are left grappling with the aftermath of the airstrikes, trying to piece together their shattered lives and hold on to the memories that now lie in ruins.
