South Lebanon children return to school destroyed by Israel strike

In the southern Lebanese town of Burj Qalaway, a group of eight-year-old students returned to an unfinished classroom on Monday, marking the beginning of the academic year. Their school, renowned for its excellence, was destroyed by an Israeli strike in May, two months after Hezbollah escalated tensions with Lebanon. Yara Ajami, an eight-year-old student, expressed her mixed emotions upon returning to her now doorless and windowless classroom.

"We are happy to be back (to school), but we were happier before," she said, climbing a bare concrete staircase. The young girl, with braided hair, shared that drawing and playing were no longer possible due to the absence of desks and chairs. Instead of attending their previous school, Ajami and her classmates were directed to a nearby structure still under construction, earmarked for preschoolers.

As the children engaged in their lessons, outside, twisted rebar protruded from the ground, remnants of walls that once existed. The students hailed from areas that were heavily impacted by the conflict.