In Beirut, chaos in the final hours before the cease-fire

"Until the last second, an unleashed war machine, a frantic race against time... an Israeli version of Apocalypse Now." This excerpt from an editorial by Najib Aoun, published the day after the 2006 cease-fire on Aug. 14, resonates deeply on Tuesday, Nov. 26. as Lebanon anxiously awaited the end of a devastating war with promises of an imminent cessation of hostilities, the Israeli military launched airstrikes on more than 30 areas, including previously untouched neighborhoods in Beirut. By mid-afternoon, evacuation orders issued by its Arabic-speaking spokesperson sparked panic, sending thousands into the streets.Traffic snarled as motorists flooded the streets around the capital. Stunned residents, uncertain about their next steps, huddled in their homes or joined the exodus. Cars were bumper-to-bumper along routes from the Corniche to...