Lebanese supermarkets and importers have about three months of stock

Contacted by L’Orient-Le Jour, Nabil Fahed, president of the supermarket owners' syndicate, said that there is mainly pressure on supermarkets located in the suburbs of Beirut, even on the northern side (Dikwane, Jal al-Dib, Zalka). The level of foot traffic is relatively normal elsewhere.

"Supermarkets have about a month's worth of stock and food importers have about three to four months. As for the supply of fresh products — fruits, vegetables, meat — it is mainly sourced from the local market. For now, the news we are receiving leads us to believe that the country's main ports are not likely to be targeted by the Israeli army," he said.

Also contacted, the president of the food importers' syndicate, Hani Bohsali, confirmed the information regarding stocks, but said he could not comment on the security situation.

"I do not have any information that would allow me to provide assurances either way," he insisted. "Our main concern is the availability of diesel and fuel oil, which supermarkets use to run generators and simply cannot do without in order to maintain the cold chain. With the crisis cell created on Sunday during a meeting between industrialists by Industry Minister Joe Issa al-Khoury, the government has shown that it is taking these concerns seriously as well as measures to address them," he added.

The war sparked by the United States and Israel against Iran has extended to Lebanon after Hezbollah, an ally of Tehran, fired several rockets and drones toward Israel on Sunday night into Monday, prompting heavy Israeli strikes on across Lebanon.

Supermarchés et importateurs libanais ont environ trois mois de stocks