Dr. Julia Ali, originally from the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon, actively shares her life on Instagram. Before the start of hostilities, she posted images of her luxurious home, along with family photos and videos of herself playing the piano.
In the backdrop of these personal stories is the ongoing fighting involving Hezbollah's operations from within civilian areas in Lebanon, often unbeknownst to locals, which have prompted IDF strikes.
IDF troops playing a woman's piano in Lebanon
In the past 24 hours, Dr. Ali's story has captured the attention of Lebanese media after she recognized her piano in a video featuring IDF soldiers, one of whom was playing it. She shared her dismay on Instagram, stating: "My home in Khiam, years of memories, years of playing my piano, my heart is shattered."
The transformation of her once opulent home is stark, both before and after the war. Hezbollah's strategy of operating amid civilian populations across Lebanon has inflicted severe damage on Lebanese citizens during these months of conflict. The organization often conceals weapons in civilian areas, and even nearby residents may be unaware of what is hidden near their homes.
Lebanese social media and news networks quickly responded with strong criticism of the IDF video, questioning whether a Hezbollah weapons cache might have been hidden beneath Julia's home. This speculation has stirred a storm on Lebanese social media, particularly after a video surfaced showing an IDF soldier playing Julia's piano amid the ruins of her home in Khiam.
Lebanese newspaper Al Nahar reported: "Israeli soldiers showcased their capture of a piano from a house they destroyed in the town of Khiam in southern Lebanon. This surreal scene contrasts sharply with the original image of the home's residents. The piano's owner had previously shared a video of herself playing at home before the devastation—a luxurious residence, a cultural and artistic haven."
Lebanese networks LBCI and Al Jadid also covered the incident, sharing videos of the house before and after its destruction. Al Jadid remarked: "Even music was not spared. This is how enemy soldiers reduced a mansion in the village of Khiam to ruins. This is how Julia played the piano in her home before the Israeli strikes brought destruction upon it."
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