The catastrophic scale of destruction inflicted on Lebanon's infrastructure and economy by the Israeli bombardment was becoming apparent yesterday as government officials released details of the damage so far.
With countless homes wrecked, 55 bridges destroyed and numerous roads made impassable, factories, hospitals and airports hit and fuel storage facilities destroyed, estimates of the reconstruction cost already run into billions of dollars.
"We know the cost is in billions," a government spokeswoman said yesterday. "But it's very difficult to estimate more precisely because there are many places we can't reach."
The prime minister, Fouad Siniora, has already said he will "spare no avenue" to obtain compensation from Israel "for the barbaric destruction it has inflicted and continues to inflict upon us".
In imposing an air and sea blockade, Israeli forces have put Beirut airport out of action and damaged two smaller airports, one of them military, and knocked out all the civilian and military radar stations, according to officials.
Israeli forces have also attacked three of the country's main seaports - Beirut, Tripoli and Jamil Gemayel - as well as putting Beirut's lighthouse out of action and hitting an antenna in Tripoli that was vital for maritime operations.
The energy sector has been hit too, with the destruction of 17 fuel stores, four gas stores and the bombing of 12 petrol stations. An electricity generator in Sibline has also been damaged.
Various factories and warehouses have been destroyed or put out of action. Last night social affairs minister Nayla Mouawad singled out two she said had been wrecked "on purpose". One was a milk plant in the Bekaa valley.
"It was our biggest milk factory in the Bekaa . . . an essential asset for bringing milk to newborn babies and young children," she said. The other was a detergent and foodstuffs warehouse for Procter & Gamble, which she described as "essential for food and hygiene".
Lebanon had also been expecting more than 1.2 million tourists - mainly wealthy Gulf Arabs and people of Lebanese descent - this summer.
"It was going to be brilliant," Ms Mouawad said. "We were expecting an income of $2.5 billion to $3 billion, which was necessary to start repaying our debts."
Some hotels have temporarily closed, although others in Beirut have been full over the past few days with Lebanese fleeing the Israeli onslaught and foreigners awaiting evacuation.
Many shops and other small businesses have also closed, either through lack of customers or because staff can no longer travel to work.
According to Sami Haddad, the minister of economy and trade, Lebanon has enough essential supplies to last two months. The government's prime concern is food - especially getting flour and grain to outlying villages.
Despite the attacks on fuel stores, Mr Haddad said supplies of petrol and diesel were "more than adequate" for the time being. To conserve fuel, though, electricity is being cut off in Beirut for six hours a day.
"Our fuel will last 45 to 60 days on this basis," the minister said.
In the meantime, the Lebanese government has launched a diplomatic initiative aimed at bringing in fresh supplies through the Israeli-imposed blockade.
There have been contacts with the US, Britain and France, and Lebanon is seeking international protection for transporting essential goods.
"We are asking for a humanitarian corridor to link Lebanon with the rest of the world - and a corridor within Lebanon to bring assistance to most of the villages in the south which are cut off from the rest of the country," Ms Mouawad said.