Beirut Residents Shocked as Israeli Airstrikes Target City Center, Instilling Fear

Photo: Reuters 

Residents in central Beirut were left in shock and fear on Friday following an Israeli airstrike that targeted a previously untouched area of the city, causing widespread devastation and raising safety concerns among the population. Historically, Israeli strikes have focused on Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and the Bekaa Valley. However, the recent airstrikes hit al-Basta al-Fouqa, a central Beirut neighborhood that houses many displaced individuals fleeing from regions heavily bombed by Israel.

Hoda Adly, a 51-year-old local resident, articulated the fear gripping the city, saying, “God alone knows what the next target will be. It is terrifying. In the north, it’s scary. In the south, it’s scary. In the east, it’s scary. In the west, it’s scary. Where do we go?” At the time of the airstrike, she was praying at home when the blast from the neighboring building erupted, sending dust and debris swirling everywhere, plunging the area into chaos.

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The aftermath of the strike left the streets littered with broken glass, rubble, and personal belongings, as residents sifted through the debris in a desperate attempt to recover their possessions. The shock and disbelief on their faces were palpable, and the explosion had crushed parked cars, leaving a thick layer of dust hanging in the air.

According to Lebanese health authorities, the two airstrikes resulted in the deaths of 22 people and injured 117 others. Although the strikes were aimed at a Hezbollah official, reports indicated that the intended target survived the attack.

Amer El Halabi, a 55-year-old resident of the area, expressed his frustration and anger over the situation. He accused Israel of using the presence of displaced individuals as a pretext for the airstrikes. “These are all residential buildings that people have been residing in for over 30 years. Where is their conscience when they kill 22 people? For what? There is no humanity left,” he stated.

El Halabi also described the emotional toll inflicted by an Israeli surveillance drone that had been persistently hovering over Beirut for weeks. “It has been here for over a month. It hasn’t left the sky. You can’t eat, you can’t drink, you can’t sleep, you can’t do anything,” he lamented.

The airstrike severely damaged at least five buildings, tearing apart their facades and shattering the windows of neighboring structures. In one building, the blast exposed the interior of a living room, where family portraits remained hanging on the dust-covered walls, stark reminders of the lives disrupted by the violence.

This attack has left the community grappling with uncertainty and fear as they try to comprehend the implications of such an escalation in hostilities, all while navigating the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict.