Residents of Beirut Suburbs Traumatized by Israeli Strikes

By Maya Gebeily and AbdelHadi Ramahi

BEIRUT – The airstrikes targeting the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh sent shockwaves through the community, especially affecting one pregnant woman who feared for her unborn child’s safety.

"I’m eight months pregnant, and the baby wasn’t even moving; I was terrified something had happened," shared Zahraa. "We saw the missiles and the fires, and we could hear every single strike. We haven’t slept at all. People are sleeping in the streets or in their cars all around us."

Zahraa and her family—her husband and their two sons, ages 17 and 10—quickly gathered their belongings and fled to other areas of Beirut as the city shook with each explosion. Many schools intended to serve as shelters were already filled with the thousands who had recently evacuated southern Lebanon, leaving those newly displaced with nowhere to go.

Hezbollah confirmed the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and pledged to continue its fight against Israel. His passing is seen as a significant setback for Hezbollah and adds to the uncertainty faced by residents of Dahiyeh and those seeking refuge across Beirut in the wake of escalating conflict that has persisted for nearly a year.

Ali Hussein Alaadin, a 28-year-old resident of Dahiyeh, reflected on the chaotic scene. After enduring some of the heaviest bombardments Beirut has experienced in decades, he was unable to properly collect his father’s medication as strikes reverberated nearby. "I don’t even know where we are. We’ve been going in circles all night, trying to reach NGOs for help," he explained, expressing frustration over inconsistent guidance from aid groups.

"We’ve been in the streets since 1:00 a.m. trying to find somewhere safe," he added.

Others, like Dalal Daher, found themselves sleeping in the open at Martyrs Square in downtown Beirut. She lamented the perceived lack of value placed on Lebanese lives amid continuous attacks. "If a paper plane crosses into Israel, there is chaos. Meanwhile, we are all displaced, and the world remains silent, as if we aren’t even human beings," she said.