Reports from Lebanon

With the hands of Tyre's sons.. the city's beach shakes off the dust of war (Report)

Naim Berjawi

12 July 2026 • Updated: 12 July 2026

LEBANON

Naim Berjawi / Anadolu

** Deputy Mayor of Tyre, Alwan Sharaf al-Din, to Anadolu:

- The Israeli aggression destroyed neighborhoods and hundreds of residential units, and today Tyre is trying to regain its tourist status

- We do not trust the enemy, but we are determined to continue living until the last breath

** Hisham Najdi, one of the participants in the Tyre beach cleanup campaign, to Anadolu:

- The campaign is a message of steadfastness and love that we can resist in our own way

- We hope to attract the largest number of foreign and local tourists

In a scene reflecting the determination of the Lebanese to restore life after the war, volunteers and the municipality of the city of Tyre, in southern Lebanon, launched a campaign to clean the public beach, in an effort to restore the luster of one of the most prominent tourist attractions, despite the presence of Israeli occupation forces just a few kilometers away.

Under the slogan "Together, we make Tyre beach cleaner.. and its image more beautiful," the municipality of Tyre launched this volunteer campaign, following the recent war that affected several neighborhoods in the city.

The city of Tyre was subjected to several raids during two Israeli aggressions, the first between 2023 and 2024 and the second during the current year, resulting in the destruction of a number of buildings, and the Israeli army issued evacuation warnings several times.

** The city's recovery

In an interview with Anadolu, Deputy Mayor of Tyre, Alwan Sharaf al-Din, said that this campaign on Tyre beach came in response to a call by the municipality after entering the recovery phase from the Israeli aggression that targeted the city.

He added: "We invited civil society and individuals to participate so that they would be partners with the municipality, and thus we enhance the sense of responsibility among everyone to preserve our city and revive it again."

He pointed out that "the aggression targeted the city of Tyre and destroyed neighborhoods and hundreds of residential units, and today the city is trying to regain its place on the tourist map due to its cultural, civilizational, and historical heritage."

** Under the watchful eye of the occupation

He continued: "We know that about 8 kilometers away, the Israeli enemy is crouching on our land, but we hope that the truce will last and the aggression will stop (..) It is true that we do not trust the enemy, but we are determined to continue living until the last breath."

While citizens enjoy the clear waters of this most prominent beach in the country, the Israeli army controls a nearby area that can be seen with the naked eye, which is the Bayada area, located only 8 kilometers from the beach.

** A message of steadfastness

For his part, Hisham Najdi, one of the participants in the campaign, said it is "a message of steadfastness and love that we can resist in our own way," expressing hope to attract the largest number of foreign tourists and citizens.

He added to Anadolu: "We came to support the municipality (..) The scene of participants in the cleanup campaign warms the heart (expands the chest), it is a message of culture, steadfastness, and love, and a message that we are able to cooperate under the umbrella of the municipality for the prosperity of this beach."

Tyre is considered one of the most important cities in the Phoenician civilization along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, known as the "Queen of the Seas."

Throughout history, the city of Tyre has been famous for its handicrafts, the manufacture of purple dye, ships, transparent glass, and fishing due to its geographical location, in addition to its clear beaches, its ancient port, and its Roman ruins. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984.

Historically, the city was ruled by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians, then it was conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, then it came under Islamic rule in the 7th century AD, and was also ruled by the Crusaders in 1124 before being subjected to the Mamluks in 1291 AD.

About 90,000 people currently live in the city of Tyre, and the Israeli army had issued several warnings during the past months of May and June, calling for the evacuation of the city of Tyre, its camps, and surrounding neighborhoods, under the pretext of intending to attack elements of Hezbollah.

During this period, a series of raids targeted the city and its surroundings, resulting in deaths, injuries, and significant material damage.

In May, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry announced that Minister Youssef Raji was conducting intensive diplomatic contacts to demand a halt to Israeli attacks on the historic city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, which affected its neighborhoods and heritage landmarks.

Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades, and others it advanced into during the previous war between 2023 and 2024. During the current aggression, it advanced more than 10 kilometers, in its deepest incursion since its withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.