Smoke billows during Israeli bombardment on the southern Lebanese border village of Khiam on June 5, 2024. Since the outbreak of war between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel on October 7, the Lebanese-Israeli border has witnessed near-daily exchanges of fire, mainly between the Israeli army and Hamas ally Hezbollah. (Credit: Rabih DAHER / AFP)
As tensions between Lebanon and Israel escalate, Beirut's residents are bracing themselves for the worst. In the past week alone, wildfires ignited on either side of the border, Hezbollah intercepted another Israeli drone and Israeli bombs destroyed homes and stores in southern Lebanon. Strikes at a hospital entrance in Bint Jbeil and an ambulance resulted in the deaths of eight Hezbollah members, three civilians and a medic.
On Monday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for Israel to occupy southern Lebanon and "severely damage" Beirut. The following day, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the border, where fires raged, ignited by shells from across the border. "They burn our regions, so we must burn all Hezbollah strongholds," Ben-Gvir declared. "Destroy them. War!”
In Beirut, the sound of Israeli jets roaring overhead has become a daily occurrence, shaking the city and its residents. Christelle Abi Akil, 35, a mother of two, describes the growing fear and uncertainty. “It has been three days since I heard Israeli jets where I am at AUB. It shakes, the sound is more intense, it is more frequent and we heard that they attacked the American Embassy, which are excuses they take to launch an attack."
Earlier on Wednesday, three men opened fire on the American Embassy in Lebanon, in Awkar, north of Beirut, injuring someone inside the building. Several people, including an Imam, were arrested in connection with the incident.
That same morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Kiryat Shmona, the site of fires ignited by cross border fire, stating, "Yesterday, the ground was set alight here, but it was also set alight in Lebanon. We are prepared for very powerful action in the north."
"I am ready to travel anytime since the beginning of the war because I have children and I cannot keep them [here in the event of a war]. Even if the airport closed, we are ready to go by sea," Abi-Akil said.
Hassan Eid, 50, shares a sentiment of exhaustion and despair. “I think there will be a war because Israel will not accept the Hezbollah attacks lightly. In my opinion, we as Lebanese are tired, we are enduring. Enough! Our children want to live and all dictator parties that are affiliated with the West destroyed our children. We sympathize yet but we don’t have the capacity.”
Hassan Eid, 50, resident of Beirut, June 5, 2024. (Credit: Ambre Angliviel de La Beaumelle)
For the younger generation, like Jamil Shoujah, 22, an AUB computer science graduate, the conflict is a harsh backdrop to their daily lives. “The war already has been happening. I don’t believe it’s going to be like this for the moment, I believe war as it is right now like Lebanon striking and Israel striking Lebanon," he said. “They see us as terrorists the same way we see them as terrorists but, as for war, happening I don’t think it will because the complications will be very severe on both sides, the casualties will be high for both sides, civilians as well. So I don’t think Israel will be that dumb to declare war on Lebanon or Lebanon to declare war on Israel.”
Jamil added a note of reluctant hope, “Everything that is happening I haven’t been thinking about it too much, it’s mainly day by day. But for escalation I don’t believe there will be much more, at least I hope, maybe it’s false hope.”
Issam Soboh, 54, a valet parking attendant, holds onto optimism. “In my opinion, there won’t be war. A deal will be made. My heart feels that there will be a deal in the country. There will be a deal in all of the country. Nobody will go to war. We’re with the resistance of the Palestinians but of course, we don’t like war. If it comes to us, everyone will go down. They were the ones who started it.”
Tatiana Abdo, 29, Beirut resident, June 5, 2024. (Credit: Ambre Angliviel de La Beaumelle)
Tatiana Abdo, 29, feels a mix of skepticism and numbness. “Honestly, it’s not that it’s not possible, but I feel that the situation is moreso propaganda and something that paralyzes connections within the country.
"I don’t know if this is a feeling I have because we are used to it since things are always happening around us and we have become numb to it. We don’t believe that something will really happen. Something could happen under my house and I still wouldn’t believe the war was coming.”
