Lebanese paramedic recounts moments of loss and targeting between the 2006 and 2026 wars

A Lebanese paramedic describes scenes of loss and targeting he experienced in the 2006 and 2026 wars.

Lebanon has witnessed several conflicts with Israel over the past decades, most notably the 2006 war and the current war that began in 2023.

Published 5 hours ago

Twenty years ago, the July War broke out between Israel and Hezbollah, resulting in the deaths of about 1,200 Lebanese and more than 160 Israelis, most of them soldiers.

After that war, a long period of calm prevailed until the situation exploded again in 2023 in what is called the Support War, whose repercussions are still ongoing.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that more than 4,300 people have been killed in Israeli shelling since March 2, 2023.

The 2006 war and today's war have left massive destruction, a large wave of displacement, and wounds that do not heal.

Ali Safieddine, who works as a paramedic in civil defense, lived through both wars and lost the dearest people to him. Here is his story.

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The 2006 war is considered one of the bloodiest wars in Lebanon, destroying infrastructure and leading to widespread displacement. As for the current war, which began in 2023, it has so far claimed more than 4,300 lives. Paramedics face great risks as they are sometimes targeted. Stories of loss, like that of Ali Safieddine, remain a mirror of the suffering of civilians in these conflicts.