Life and loss as a first responder in southern Lebanon

Ali Safiuddin is the head of the Civil Defence in Tyre, and in his life and career as a first responder, he has had to come to terms with life and loss.Although southern Lebanon is officially covered by a ceasefire, along the “Yellow Line” – the area Israel has claimed as a security zone – there are still frequent bombings and shelling.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Lebanese soldiers injured while Israeli troops intrude on southern townlist 2 of 4Future of southern Lebanon peacekeeping uncertain ahead of UNIFIL phase-outlist 3 of 4Lebanon passes long-sought amnesty law, a day after death penalty repeallist 4 of 4Israeli strikes in south Lebanon a ‘violation of international law’: PMend of list“Things are relatively normal,” said Safiuddin on a late June morning in southern Lebanon. “After the ceasefire, the only strikes that have happened are in al-Mansouri and Majadal [two municipalities in Tyre District], along the ‘Yellow Line’.”“Relatively normal” means that the Israeli military is not directly striking Tyre, the largest city in southern Lebanon. But the war continues on its outskirts, along and in the military zone imposed by Israel that stretches about 10km (6 ...