The article exposes the deliberate destruction of Beirut’s southern suburbs during Israel’s recent war, showing how urban spaces were targeted not only for their “military” importance, but first and foremost for their social, political, and economic values in the community. Schools, hospitals, markets, and homes were systematically damaged, tearing apart communities, erasing collective memory, and forcing thousands to flee. This form of urbicide goes beyond conventional warfare, aiming to dismantle the city’s social fabric. Drawing on data, maps, and local testimonies, the article documents the scale of destruction and raises urgent questions about urban justice and the future of the city’s reconstruction.
Urbicide as a strategy: The southern suburbs of Beirut between the attacks and the urban fragmentation
09/01/2026
