The highways leading to northern Lebanon witnessed heavy congestion today as many families left their villages, fleeing the intense Israeli bombardment targeting the south of the country. Parents embraced their children, carrying essential belongings in bags placed atop cars while black smoke billowed on the horizon.
On these crowded roads, cars and small trucks were heavily loaded with luggage and passengers fleeing imminent danger. Passersby saw entire families trying to escape the bombardment, with some fleeing hastily, taking only the essential items hastily gathered under a barrage of bombs.
Abdel Afou, a resident of the village of Yater, which experienced heavy bombing in the early morning hours, said: “When the raids started on our homes this morning, I grabbed the important papers and we left immediately. The scene was terrifying, and the strikes surrounded us from all sides.” Abdel Afou expressed his decision to leave after the bombs began raining down on homes, despite having stayed in the village since the conflict began.
He added, “I put my hand on my son’s back to calm him and told him not to be afraid.” Now, Abdel Afou’s family finds themselves stuck in traffic heading north, unsure of their final destination other than their desire to reach Beirut.
This displacement comes amid cross-border fire between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah, which escalated after the outbreak of the war in Gaza last year. Israel has significantly intensified its military operations over the past week.
As the scope of the bombardment expands to include other areas of Lebanon, residents received recorded phone calls from the Israeli military instructing them to evacuate their homes to ensure their safety.
