“If there is a possibility to return, we will return, if not, then we won't. Right now, no one knows where to go,” said Ahmed, one of the Lebanese fleeing the intense Israeli shelling in the south of the country with his family. Traffic jams appeared on roads leading to the capital on Monday.
On Monday Israel launches massive attack on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. At least 274 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured, including women, children and health workers, according to the Beirut Health Ministry.
Thousands of residents of the region decided to abandon their homes. They headed towards the capital, Beirut. As a result, there were huge traffic jams on the roads. People appeared on the roadsides hoping for a lift.
Residents of southern Lebanon flee attacks PAP/EPA/STRINGER
“Nobody knows where to go right now”
“When the attacks on the houses happened in the morning, I grabbed all my important documents and we left. The attacks (were) all around us. It was terrifying,” Abed Afou from one of the affected villages told Reuters.
“There was shelling there, so we got in the car and came here. We don't know what's left. I swear, we don't know what's going on,” Mohammed said, adding that he and his family were going to Beirut.
“The attacks, the warplanes, the destruction. No one was left there. Everyone fled. We took our things and left. If there is a possibility to return, we will return, if not, then we won't. Right now, no one knows where to go,” Ahmed said.
– The force and intensity of the bombardment is something we have not seen before in all the previous wars – admitted Abu Hassan Kahoul. – Young children do not know what is happening, but you can see fear in their eyes – he added.
A resident of the southern city of Tyre on Lebanon's coast told CNN that Israeli planes had been “dropping” missiles near his home. “It's been raining bombs since five in the morning,” Haidar Al-Rouz added. He also said he saw several buildings collapse.
On Monday afternoon, the Israeli military said it had carried out an attack on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital. The strike was targeted at senior Hezbollah leader Ali Karaki, head of the Southern Front, according to Reuters.
Supported by Iran Hezbollah has been involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict, centered in the Gaza Strip, almost since the outbreak of its current phase almost a year ago. The aim of the attacks carried out from Lebanese territory is to support Hamas.
The exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified in recent days, reaching levels not seen in months. Monday's Israeli attack was the deadliest in Lebanon at least since the mutual shelling began last fall. According to CNN, the attacks were the most intense since a ceasefire was agreed between the two countries in 2006. More than 1,000 Lebanese and more than 100 Israelis were killed in the second Lebanon war
The situation on the Israeli-Lebanese borderPAP
Main image source: Reuters