“Lebanon in Limbo” is a project where photojournalist Ali Khara explores the trajectory of the war in Lebanon from his time residing in Beirut from early 2024 until now. The events on October 8, 2023 had devastating political and humanitarian consequences for the country, which were triggered after Hezabollah fired rockets and shells across the Israeli border in support of Hamas’ attack the day before.

The war resulted in heavy casualties, mass displacement, and widespread destruction which Khara bore witness to and he sought to capture. As someone who grew up in the Middle East and previously covered the wars in Syria and Iraq, he felt that this war, which escalated very quickly in late 2024, was of significance to document, particularly in how it impacted the lives of all Lebanese in country that is at times complicated by various layers of political allegiance, religious links and history.

Khara witnessed the country rapidly change after the pagers attacks and the assisination of Hassan Nasrallah, and as a photojournalist it became increasingly difficult to overcome challenges such as Hezbollah restricting media access to places such as Dahiyeh, in southern Beirut, or the dangers that came with travelling to the southern Lebanon as Israeli attacks intensified.

A pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict came when Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on September 27, 2024. The strike targeted Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut, specifically the Dahiyeh neighborhood, using bunker-buster bombs that left destruction in its wake. As shockwaves reverberated through the area, many rushed into the streets in fear. Rumors spread quickly, and by the next day, it was confirmed: Nasrallah had been killed. His death dealt a blow to Hezbollah and sent shockwaves through Lebanon’s Shia community, which had supported him for decades.

Despite its political and military stature, Hezbollah had suffered significant losses in the months leading up to Nasrallah's death. Israel had systematically targeted high-ranking Hezbollah commanders and infrastructure, destroying missile warehouses and weapons stockpiles. The situation escalated further with the September 17, 2024, explosion of thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah across Lebanon, killing people and injuring thousands, including both Hezbollah members and civilians.