Beirut’s Southern Suburbs Devastated by Israeli Bombing: Nearly 1 Million Displaced

 

The southern suburb of Beirut, known as Dahiyeh, has been left largely deserted as residents flee from the ongoing Israeli airstrikes targeting what Israel claims are Hezbollah positions. Army checkpoints at the area’s entrance stood unmanned, with soldiers absent, reflecting the chaos and fear gripping the neighborhood.

The streets of Dahiyeh, usually bustling with life, were eerily quiet, with abandoned carts and shopfronts closed with aluminum shutters. According to Lebanese authorities, nearly 1 million people have been displaced due to the relentless bombing over the past two weeks.

Dr. Ali Ahmad, a resident and professor at the Lebanese University, expressed concern over the situation, stating, “Israel is hitting the civilian population because they think it will break their will. But people don’t want Israel to win, so they are saying that their will won’t break.” Many residents, despite the danger posed by Israeli drones flying overhead, ventured out to check on their homes, hoping to find their properties intact.

The Israeli bombing campaign has intensified, especially since the targeted killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Residents reported that evacuation orders were issued with little warning, often giving them only 10 to 15 minutes to leave before the bombing commenced. Hussein Zein, a displaced local, criticized the random nature of the airstrikes, questioning Israel’s claims about targeting Hezbollah facilities: “If there is really a [Hezbollah] weapons depot here, show us. Bring experts to look; there’s nothing here.”

In addition to operations in Dahiyeh, Israel has begun issuing evacuation orders in southern Lebanon, affecting over 30 villages as it prepares for limited ground incursions aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s capabilities. This escalation resulted in the first significant Israeli military casualties, with eight soldiers killed in recent border clashes, while Hezbollah claimed to have destroyed three Israeli tanks.

The displacement crisis has worsened, with families seeking shelter in public areas like Martyr’s Square in central Beirut. The number of displaced families sleeping in the open is on the rise, as Israeli strikes expand beyond Dahiyeh into other neighborhoods, including Jnah and Cola.

Despite the devastation and loss of safety, residents expressed their determination to resist. “Even if they occupy Lebanon, we will resist. We defeated them in 2000, and we will defeat them again,” Dr. Ahmad asserted, reflecting the resilience of the community amid the turmoil.