Families in southern Lebanon are fleeing north, escaping intensified Israeli bombardments targeting Hezbollah-linked areas. Vehicles packed with multiple generations, children, and belongings are heading to safer regions like Beirut. Many left their homes with only essential items as bombs struck residential neighborhoods.
A man leaned across a woman in the passenger seat of a car to shout through the window: “We will be back. God willing we will be back. Tell (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu that we will return.”
Abed Afou, a resident of Yater, described the terror of leaving his village after heavy airstrikes. He, like many others, fled with his family, unsure of where they would find refuge. Afou’s family, stuck in traffic on the highway, escaped with their three sons amidst ongoing attacks. He said:
“I had one hand on my son’s back telling him not to be afraid,”
The situation escalated on Monday as Israeli strikes expanded, with more areas in Lebanon under fire. Israel’s military broadcast pre-recorded messages, urging civilians to evacuate. In Sidon, traffic crawled while Lebanese police helped manage the flow of displaced people.
Many families, like Ahmed’s, were unsure if they would ever return home. His van, packed with over 10 family members, mostly children, was filled with uncertainty as they fled the strikes.
“Strikes. Warplanes. Destruction. No one is left there. Everyone has fled. We took our belongings and left,” he said.
Others, like Abu Hassan Kahoul, left after nearby buildings were leveled, fleeing to Beirut to escape the unprecedented intensity of the bombings.
“The strength and intensity of the bombing are something we haven’t witnessed before in all the previous wars,”
“Small children don’t know what is happening but there’s fear in their eyes,”
Lebanon’s health ministry reported over 270 deaths, marking the deadliest day since the 1990 civil war. Civilians, already traumatized, fled with no clear plan, prioritizing safety. The humanitarian crisis worsens as traffic along key highways highlights the scale of displacement, and relief efforts face growing pressure.
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