Prior to ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes target civilian infrastructure and historic church in Nabatieh, Lebanon

NABATIEH, Lebanon — The Israeli Army targeted the Christian neighborhood of Nabatieh, Lebanon, prior to the ceasefire going into effect, causing extensive damage to the historic Melkite Greek Catholic Church of Our Lady of Assumption. The attack also destroyed the Al-Ghafri family home, the parish house, several neighboring houses, and multiple vehicles.

Centuries old, the Church of Our Lady of Assumption had previously been restored following significant damage during the Israeli bombardment in the July 2006 war.

Since the onset of the latest Israeli escalation in Lebanon, numerous churches, especially in the southern region, have suffered damage due to nearby airstrikes, raising concerns about the protection of religious and historical sites amid ongoing hostilities.