Beirut Descends into Chaos as War Returns to Lebanon
Tens of thousands of Lebanese civilians fled their homes in Beirut on Monday, with eerily familiar scenes of panic and displacement unfolding across the capital. Israeli airstrikes, launched in response to a Hezbollah rocket barrage, have left at least 52 people dead and displaced 29,000 to emergency shelters, according to Lebanon's ministry of social affairs. The numbers are expected to rise as the conflict escalates.
Families Forced onto Streets in Desperate Flight
Abu Yehya, a 41-year-old day labourer, awoke with his two sons to the sound of a dozen blasts in the early hours, one just a few hundred metres away. They walked for four hours, bleary-eyed, until reaching downtown Beirut's Martyrs' Square, the same spot they had fled to during the last conflict 18 months earlier. "The kids were terrified, they were screaming. It was exactly like the last time, we knew from the very first moment what it was. War is war," said Abu Yehya, clutching his sons close.
He was among the masses who poured into the streets as Israeli bombs pounded southern suburbs, the Bekaa valley, and south Lebanon. By afternoon, the Israeli army had ordered residents of over 50 villages to evacuate, with warplanes rattling windows over Beirut. Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, head of Israel's military, stated: "The IDF will not conclude the campaign before the threat from Lebanon is eliminated."
Smouldering Anger at Hezbollah's Decision
In Beirut, anger boiled over Hezbollah's move to enter the war with Israel, dragging the rest of the country into the conflict. "I was so, so upset when I learned we had entered the war. We are exhausted from all these wars," Abu Yehya lamented. "Us adults, we will die when we die, but our children are a different story. They are frightened."
Families tried to sleep under the harsh morning sun on thin foam mattresses in Martyrs' Square, while passenger vans stuffed with belongings clogged the streets. The scenes mirrored those of 18 months prior, but this time, the assault was met with weary resignation and smouldering fury rather than solidarity.
Betrayal Felt Across Lebanese Society
Even among Hezbollah's popular base, the group's entry into the war provoked shock. A woman from the Hezbollah-dominated southern suburbs, who declined to be named, expressed bitterness: "For two years Israel has been bombing Lebanon and Hezbollah has not replied even once. Now, Iran is bombed for two days and they burn the whole country for them? They don't care about Lebanon."
Lebanese officials had warned Hezbollah for weeks that entering the war on Iran's side would cause nationwide suffering. Hezbollah had reassured them it would respect the state's decision to stay out. The group's decision to bomb Israel anyway created a deep sense of betrayal in the government and armed forces, who felt misled.
Unprecedented Government Response
The Lebanese government swiftly condemned Hezbollah's actions, issuing an unprecedented decision to ban the group from all security and military functions, ordering it to act solely as a political party. The cabinet instructed the judiciary to arrest those who fired rockets at Israel and told the army to prevent further launches from Lebanon.
This move marked a stark shift, as the government had avoided confrontation with Hezbollah for 18 months, fearing civil conflict. Yet war has come regardless, with people in Beirut craning their necks to spot Israeli drones and bracing for airstrikes.
As Abu Yehya pondered his next steps, with shelters full and his children weary, he considered heading to a park in Khaldeh for shade. The future remains uncertain for thousands displaced, as Lebanon once again grapples with the devastating toll of conflict.
