Terrified Lebanese Families Flee Massive Israeli Bombardment

By Abdelaziz Boumzar and Maya Gebeily

SIDON, Lebanon — Families in southern Lebanon faced chaos and uncertainty as they fled northward on Monday, escaping an intensifying Israeli bombardment. Cars, vans, and pick-up trucks overflowed with belongings, and many vehicles were packed with multiple generations of families. Some had to leave in haste, taking with them only essential items as bombs fell nearby.

“When the strikes happened in the morning, I grabbed all the important papers and we got out. There were strikes all around us. It was terrifying,” recounted Abed Afou after heavy bombing in his village of Yater at dawn.

Since a recent surge of conflict began last year with an attack by Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah, exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated. Over the past week, Israel’s military campaign has intensified sharply, prompting widespread evacuations.

As bombardments spread across more areas of Lebanon on Monday, many received recorded messages on their phones from the Israeli military urging them to leave for their safety. Afou, who remained in Yater despite its proximity to the Israeli border, finally decided to evacuate as explosions began hitting residential homes.

“I had one hand on my son’s back telling him not to be afraid,” he said as he navigated the congested highway north with his three sons, aged 6 to 13, and other relatives. They were uncertain of where they would end up but aimed to reach Beirut.

Long traffic lines formed as families passed through Sidon. One van had its back doors ajar, with a woman in a red scarf sitting by the entrance and a boy standing inside, holding onto a rail.

Nearby, members of Lebanon’s security forces stood watch, while a man shouted to a passing car: “We will be back. God willing we will be back. Tell Netanyahu that we will return.”

Another man, identified only as Ahmed, expressed doubt about returning home. His van was filled with more than ten people, many of them children. “Strikes. Warplanes. Destruction. No one is left there. Everyone has fled. We took our belongings and left,” he lamented.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, over 270 people have been killed in the recent bombardment, marking the deadliest single day for the country since the civil war ended in 1990. Israel claims to have targeted approximately 800 sites linked to Hezbollah, alleging that the buildings targeted contained weapons.

Witnesses described witnessing extensive destruction firsthand. “The strength and intensity of the bombing are something we haven’t seen before in any past conflicts,” said Abu Hassan Kahoul, who was headed to Beirut with his family after two nearby buildings were destroyed.

“Small children don’t know what is happening, but the fear is evident in their eyes,” he added.

Even in Beirut, anxiety was rising, with parents hurriedly pulling their children from schools as Israel announced further strikes were imminent. “The situation is not reassuring,” observed a man named Issa as he went to pick up a young student.