Lebanese Man Searches Bombed Home for Slain Family’s Mementos

Hussein Saleh, 34, returns repeatedly to a plot of land in Tyre. He searches the rubble for traces of his family.

A Lebanese man searches the bombed home for the slain family’s mementos. He hopes to find a phone, toys, or a book.

The strike and losses

The strike hit on March 6 while Saleh was grocery shopping. His home was destroyed by an Israeli missile.

Eight relatives were killed. They included his wife, his five-year-old daughter Sarrah, a sister-in-law, her husband, two children, and two aunts.

What remains at the site

The site now holds stones, twisted metal, and a tattered book. Saleh checks the ground every day or two for small keepsakes.

He says there were no weapons or militants inside his house. He cannot explain why his family was targeted.

Human cost and wider conflict

Lebanon’s health ministry reports more than 1,500 deaths since the new war began on March 2. That toll includes 130 children and 101 women.

Since March 2, Israel has issued evacuation warnings covering roughly 15% of Lebanon. Tyre was included in those areas.

Ceasefire and military actions

A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran was announced on Wednesday. Sources close to Hezbollah said the group paused attacks during the truce.

Israel continued strikes despite the announcement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Lebanon was not part of the truce.

Aftermath for Saleh

Saleh describes finding body parts too mangled to identify. He buried fragments together because they could not be sorted.

Sarrah had been undergoing physical therapy after a condition left her partly paralyzed. Her family had hoped she would walk again soon.

Loneliness and grief now dominate Saleh’s days. He says his life has changed and he cannot bear long periods alone.

The Israeli military did not immediately answer questions about the strike. This account is based on reporting by Maya Gebeily and editing by Rod Nickel for Filmogaz.com.