The After-Image

Images in the aftermath; in the aftermath of the image. 

Curated by Fatima Joumaa.

“The After-Image” presents firsthand testimonies from local photographers, documentarians, and visual artists bearing witness to the U.S.-Israeli war on Lebanon. These accounts are drawn primarily from voice notes, often shared in real time under distressing conditions. 

Some details, including exact times, sequence of events, and casualty figures, may not always be precise. Received in Arabic, these testimonies are translated and edited for clarity and readability while preserving the eyewitness’s voice and intent.

This section also includes reflections penned after the image was processed, offering space for contributors to grapple with what they witnessed. 

Before-after satellite imagery of a border village named Aitaroun in southern Lebanon, showing the village before Israeli occupation forces destroyed it, and after.

Satellite imagery showing the border village of Aitaroun before Israeli occupation forces destroyed it, and after. Aitaroun, South Lebanon. April 2026. (Image courtesty of Zaynab Mayladan)

When a Satellite Image Becomes a Form of Return

Journalist Zaynab Mayladan on witnessing the destruction of home from exile.
By
Zaynab Mayladan
Silhouetted thin branches and twigs fill the foreground against a vibrant reddish-orange sunset with a partially visible sun on the horizon.

Sunset over al-Suwaneh, south Lebanon. August, 2010. (Photo Credit: Ghayyan Al-Amine)

Night Shift, or How I Lost the Sun

A chronicle of resistance to colonial occupation in southern Lebanon, of recurring cycles of war, and the enduring belief in return.
By
Reef H. Al-Amine
A narrow, muddy path between weathered concrete walls is flanked by a rusty gate and graffiti.

The day of return. Markaba, South Lebanon. February 18, 2025. (Hassan Shehadi/The Public Source)

The Infrastructure of The Resistance

Southerner Hassan Shehadi believes the future of this land will be shaped by everyday acts of rejection and defiance.
By
Hassan Shehadi
Golden sunset over a row of silhouetted trees, casting warm light over verdant greenery below, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

Samra’s hometown of Khayzaran, Saida, South Lebanon. April 25, 2026. (Batul Samra/The Public Source)

The Feeling That Made Staying in Our Village Possible

Photographer Batul Samra reflects on the memories, feelings, and experiences that made it possible for her family to stay in southern Lebanon.
By
Batul Samra
A white SUV loaded with mattresses navigates a rural road, surrounded by a herd of goats. The Shepherd gestures to the driver.

Tayr Debba, South Lebanon. April 19, 2026. (Fatima Joumaa/The Public Source)

Martyrdom as The First Act of Return

The fallen light the way home for the rest of us.
By
Fatima Joumaa
A dark plume of smoke rises into the night sky above a distant city, with lights from buildings visible in the foreground.

An Israeli airstrike hits Kfar Tebnit at around 2 a.m. Photo taken from Nabatieh, southern Lebanon. April 8, 2026. (Abbas Fakih/The Public Source)

From Ceasefire to Fire Belt: A Firsthand Account From Nabatieh

Despite his injury, photographer Abbas Fakih recounts the violence that overwhelmed Nabatieh on “Black Wednesday.”
By
Abbas Fakih
An older woman dressed in black sits beside a bed inside a tent-like shelter, holding a folded blanket. A small plate of fruit and a book rest on the bed next to her.

Hajje Mounifa observes Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Decree, as recommended by Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, she says, praying for resistance fighters confronting the enemy in her southern village of Markaba. Nuwayri School, Beirut, Lebanon. March 10, 2026. (Fatima Joumaa/The Public Source)

“They’re Trying to Take Paradise From Us”

On longing for the South From a Displacement Center in Beirut.
Photographs by
Fatima Joumaa
Graffiti in Arabic covers a white and yellow exterior wall beneath a barred window with exposed wires hanging across the scene.

Nabi Chit, Lebanon. March 8, 2026. (Abdul Kader Albay/The Public Source)

To Stand Before the “Lions” of Nabi Chit

Photographer Abdul Kader al-Bay bears witness to the strength of Nabi Chit after an overnight airborne attack.
By
Abdul Kader al-Bay

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