For years, Lebanese chef Husen Fayad dreamed of bringing the skills he learned at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Paris back to Lebanon, using them to celebrate the country's cuisine and showcase the beauty of the south.
This week, those dreams were shattered when Israeli bombardment completely destroyed Arch al-Moulouk, his family-owned resort and restaurant in Wadi al-Hujeir, south Lebanon.
The sprawling 25,000-square-metre complex, one of the area's best-known landmarks, had become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. On Monday, it was reduced to rubble.
Fayad, who has amassed more than 3.4 million followers on Instagram and 1.3 million on TikTok, told The New Arab that the loss was difficult to put into words.
"The resort was far more than a business for our family; it was a place where countless memories were made, family milestones were celebrated, and lifelong friendships were formed. It held deep sentimental value and represented years of hard work, dedication, and dreams," he said.
"It feels like losing a piece of my heart. While the buildings can be rebuilt, the memories tied to that place are irreplaceable." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arch Almoulouk (@archalmoulouk) Videos and satellite imagery shared widely online after the attack show the site flattened, with no visible structures left standing.
Unconfirmed reports on Monday suggested Israeli forces had planted explosives throughout the resort before destroying it. Fayad said nobody had been able to access the area to verify those claims because of the intensity of the attacks.
The restaurant was built between 2009 and 2011, with Fayad and his family continuing to expand and improve it over the years.
By 2026, the site had grown into a major leisure destination featuring swimming pools, playgrounds, water features, landscaped gardens and outdoor dining areas. It also served as a popular venue for weddings and family celebrations.
For Fayad, the project was about more than hospitality. Through his cooking videos, which regularly attracted millions of views, he sought to promote traditional Lebanese cuisine and highlight the natural beauty of south Lebanon. Meals for displaced families His profile grew further during Israel's war on Lebanon in 2024, when he transformed the resort into a hub for displaced families.
Despite having built a successful career in France and attracting a global audience online, Fayad said returning to Lebanon during the war felt like a duty.
"I came back to Lebanon because I wanted to stand with my people and support them during such a difficult time," he said.
Together with staff and volunteers, the restaurant prepared and distributed between 500 and 600 meals a day to families forced from their homes by the conflict.
The destruction of the resort has also devastated the livelihoods of those who depended on it.
"The resort was also a source of income for many families. Around 80 people worked there," Fayad said. "They relied on the business and many had no other source of income." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Husen Fayad (@husenfayad) The loss comes as Israel continues its military campaign in Lebanon despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to halt the violence.
Israel's daily attacks and evacuation threats have displaced more than one million people, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes across southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and Beirut's southern suburb.
Since 2 March, at least 3,468 people have been killed in Lebanon and another 10,577 wounded, according to the country's health ministry.
The conflict has also deepened Lebanon's economic crisis. Inflation reached an 18-month high earlier this year, while Bank Audi warned that the country's economy could record zero growth in 2026 if hostilities continue.
Yet despite losing the project he spent years building, Fayad says he remains determined to start again.
"The hope is to rebuild and restore the resort," he said. "We will move forward with resilience and hope."