Beirut, Lebanon – Lebanon has been thrown into chaos as Israeli airstrikes continue to pound Hezbollah positions across the country, leading to widespread destruction, loss of life, and the displacement of thousands of civilians. The latest wave of violence has been described as the most intense since the 2006 Lebanon War, with Lebanese authorities reporting that at least 492 people have been killed and over 1,600 injured in the past 24 hours alone.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been targeting Hezbollah positions and weapons caches in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and northern Lebanon near the Syrian border. The IDF claims that the strikes are aimed at degrading Hezbollah’s military capabilities and pushing its fighters away from the border, allowing Israeli families who were evacuated from northern Israel to return home safely.
The bombardment has triggered a massive exodus of civilians from southern Lebanon, with families scrambling to pack their belongings and flee northwards towards Beirut and other safer regions. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles have clogged roads as people rush to escape the violence. Schools in Beirut and other cities have been converted into shelters to accommodate the influx of refugees, while hospitals have been ordered to cancel all non-elective surgeries to prepare for a wave of casualties.
“We just had to flee,” said Zahra Sawli, a student from the southern town of Nabatieh. “I woke up to the sound of bombing at 6 am, and by noon, it had become really intense. A lot of my friends are still stuck in traffic trying to get out.”
The Lebanese health ministry has reported that at least 35 children and 58 women are among the dead, with many more injured. Rescue workers are struggling to reach those trapped under rubble, while hospitals are overwhelmed with the number of casualties.
The Israeli military has warned Lebanese civilians to evacuate areas where Hezbollah is believed to be storing weapons, including some districts in Beirut that are not considered Hezbollah strongholds. This has caused widespread panic and anxiety among residents, who are unsure of where to go for safety.
“In Lebanon, nowhere is safe,” said Issa, a father who rushed to pick up his son from school after receiving evacuation warnings. “Israel is saying they are going to bombard everywhere. Now they’ve threatened this neighborhood, so where should we go?”
Hezbollah has responded to the Israeli strikes by firing hundreds of rockets into northern Israel, causing damage and panic among Israeli civilians. The situation has raised fears of a full-blown regional war, with the United States, Canada, and other countries warning their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately.
The Lebanese government has called for an immediate ceasefire and is seeking international help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has expressed grave concern for the safety of civilians in southern Lebanon and has called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s already struggling economy and infrastructure have been further devastated by the violence. The country is still recovering from a massive port explosion in 2020 and is grappling with multiple crises that have overwhelmed its capacity to cope.
“As the escalation of hostilities in south Lebanon drags on longer than we had hoped, it has led to further displacement and deepened the already critical needs,” said Imran Riza, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon. The UN has allocated $24 million in emergency funding to support those affected by the fighting.
As the situation in Lebanon remains tense and unpredictable, the international community is urging all parties to exercise restraint and engage in diplomacy to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.