Caught between Israel and Hezbollah, Nabatieh residents turn to the state as a last resort

At least 26 people have already been killed, many of them civilians. Cultural heritage sites are under threat, and residents are once again being displaced. The latest Israeli military escalation, which followed Israel’s announcement that it had seized control of Ali Taher hill, took a heavy toll on Nabatieh and the surrounding area. And the worst may not be over: the capital of Jabal Amel could face a large-scale ground offensive in the coming days.In an effort to save what remains, residents and MPs have once again turned to the state. On Monday, they called for Nabatieh to be declared "open to the Lebanese Army and free of [Hezbollah] weapons," in the hope of shielding the city from Israeli strikes. A day later, residents of Arab Salim, also in the Nabatieh district, and the major southern city of Sour issued similar...