Waves of Israeli attacks on southern areas in Lebanon’s capital kill several people and force many residents to flee.
Beirut, Lebanon – Normally, at about 1 am on a Saturday, parking is easy to find at Ramlet el-Bayda on Beirut’s seafront.
However, on this Saturday morning, cars were bumper to bumper on both sides of the road.
Many were double parked, and more kept arriving as people continued to flee waves of destruction wrought by the Israeli attacks that swept southern parts of Lebanon’s capital.
Earlier that evening, Israeli forces razed a block of buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, killing at least six and wounding another 91. Many more are feared dead.
Israel said the target was a main Hezbollah headquarters and that Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah had been killed. Hezbollah has yet to comment on his fate.
On the beachfront, people lay mattresses on the pavement, while others put their towels directly on the beach.
Near the bottom of the sand, some started to arrange their plastic chairs, looking forward to the water, while others were placed in circles around tables, drinking coffee or smoking argileh pipes. The children played in groups.
Some said they would spend the night here, while others said they had no idea. They didn’t think that far ahead; they just knew they had to leave the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The Israeli military also issued a statement, including posting maps, announcing that three buildings in this area would be hit.
