A veteran driver in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, said he keeps a mental "safe roadmap" of Lebanon to help him navigate the country -- a reflection of how years of war and turmoil have shaped people's daily lives.
Samer Bounasreddine, 44, has been driving for over 20 years. Besides keeping in mind the roads leading from Lebanon to various destinations, he is also fully aware of where recent bombings have occurred and where dangers might lurk.
In late September, Bounasreddine drove a CMG reporter to different parts of Lebanon. One of the routes they took, a main artery connecting the city center to the airport, passes through Beirut's southern suburbs and serves as a vital thoroughfare for many residents returning home. This area has been struck by scores of Israeli airstrikes during the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
"This area was hit very badly by the Israeli air strikes. Here you can see on our left. This was an 11-story building. It was totally destroyed by an Israeli air strike," the driver said as he passed through a heavily-bombed neighborhood.
Southern Lebanon is the primary theater of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Although a ceasefire agreement came into effect in June, airstrikes, exchanges of fire, and military operations have never fully ceased. Heading south along the Saida-Tyre Highway, Bounasreddine drew on his extensive experience to gauge how far they could safely venture, and led the reporter to the safest possible location.
The driver said that for the reporting, this was the limit of safety. But for many locals, they had no choice but to continue heading south, because the roads ahead led to their homes.
"People are going to their homes in Tyre, but for me and you, I think it's better to stop here. If we continue further south of Saida, the Lebanese army will forbid us to continue. That will be the end of the road for now," he said.
Following the start of a new ceasefire on June 19, many residents who had previously fled southern Lebanon began returning home. Bounasreddine said that some people's homes had been destroyed in the war, and they would be starting their lives over from scratch.
Veteran driver adopts "safe roadmap" to navigate Lebanon's war-torn areas
