Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in the southern coastal city of Sour on March 7, 2026. (Credit: AFP)
On Tuesday night at 11 p.m., an evacuation order from the Israeli army sparked panic in the southern coastal city of Sour. By morning, much of the densely populated area had emptied — but not everyone left.“I’m staying,” says Abbas Abu Khalil, a middle-aged resident, as he walks along Sour’s corniche the next day. “Even if they issue a thousand warnings, I’ll stay. No one can pressure me.”Around him, the seaside is quieter than usual. “There are a few young men feeding the birds here,” he observes, though he insists they are the exception. For Abbas, leaving is simply not an option. For Abbas, leaving is simply not an option. “I stayed in 2006 and 2024. Why would I leave now?” he adds, referring to previous wars with Israel.Abbas Abu Khalil takes a stroll along the Sour corniche on March 18, 2026. (Photo sent by Abu Khalil to...
On Tuesday night at 11 p.m., an evacuation order from the Israeli army sparked panic in the southern coastal city of Sour. By morning, much of the densely populated area had emptied — but not everyone left.“I’m staying,” says Abbas Abu Khalil, a middle-aged resident, as he walks along Sour’s corniche the next day. “Even if they issue a thousand warnings, I’ll stay. No one can pressure me.”Around him, the seaside is quieter than usual. “There are a few young men feeding the birds here,” he observes, though he insists they are the exception. For Abbas, leaving is simply not an option. For Abbas, leaving is simply not an option. “I stayed in 2006 and 2024. Why would I leave now?” he adds, referring to previous wars with Israel.Abbas Abu Khalil takes a stroll along the Sour corniche on March 18, 2026. (Photo sent by...
