Traumatised horses saved from Israel’s bombs find refuge in Bekaa Valley
Al Jazeera
As Israel carpet-bombs Lebanon, one horse owner created a haven for horses who survived the shelling.
Bar Elias, Lebanon – Purebred Arabian horses dart in the light of the setting sun, hooves swirling up clouds of sand. They gallop around the paddock, encouraged by their handlers at a stable built like a small citadel on the outskirts of Bar Elias.
But despite the scene’s beauty, as the day draws to a close, a sense of sadness pervades.
Eighteen horses survived the Israeli bombs that turned their stable in south Lebanon to rubble, killing many people and horses.
The rescued horses had found a new home in the central Bekaa Valley. Still, many died during the bombardment of a neighbouring stable when Israel launched its assault on Lebanon on September 23.
A bloody escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah since October 7, 2023, the Israeli attacks on Lebanon have left more than 1,300 dead and 9,000 wounded in just a few weeks.
