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In the early hours of Thursday, the city of Beirut once again found itself under siege as fresh Israeli airstrikes targeted the heart of the Lebanese capital, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Central Beirut, once considered a symbol of Lebanon's resilience and post-war recovery, has now turned into a scene of carnage, as eleven lives were lost and forty-eight others wounded in the deadliest escalation of the conflict in recent months.
Residents of the stricken area woke to the deafening sounds of explosions, with the strikes ripping through residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and significant cultural landmarks. Some buildings, having withstood decades of conflict, collapsed entirely under the intensity of the air raids, trapping families beneath the rubble. Among the dead are six civilians, including two children, whose family apartment was decimated in the onslaught. Emergency workers were dispatched immediately, but the intensity of the destruction made it nearly impossible for rescue efforts to proceed swiftly, with many feared still trapped beneath the ruins.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as "catastrophic," with fires engulfing large sections of buildings and thick plumes of smoke rising over the city. The attacks, targeting a region already struggling with economic crises and a fragile peace, have sent shockwaves throughout Lebanon, stirring fears of yet another all-out conflict. "It's like the war never ended," said an elderly resident, tears streaming down her face as she stared at what was once her home. "We have been trying to rebuild, to hope for something better, but all they keep giving us is destruction."
Lebanese officials condemned the strikes as a blatant violation of international law, with Prime Minister Najib Mikati calling them "an act of aggression that threatens the sovereignty and stability of Lebanon." He urged the international community to step in and pressure Israel to cease its military operations, stressing that Lebanon "cannot bear another war." He also extended his condolences to the families of the victims and vowed that those responsible for the attacks would face justice.
Meanwhile, Israel has defended the airstrikes as a "necessary measure" in response to Hezbollah rocket fire launched earlier in the week. Israeli military officials claim that several of the targeted sites were Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut, accusing the group of using civilian areas to shield their military operations. "We do everything in our power to avoid civilian casualties," an Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson stated, "but Hezbollah's use of human shields forces us to take difficult decisions."
The claim has been vehemently denied by Hezbollah, whose leaders insist that the rocket attacks were a "defensive retaliation" against Israeli provocations in southern Lebanon. In a televised address following the airstrikes, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah condemned Israel's "reckless aggression" and warned that his group would continue to resist any attempts to destabilize Lebanon. "Israel will not dictate the terms of our future," Nasrallah declared. "We will stand firm in our defense of Lebanon, no matter the cost."
For many in Beirut, the cost is already too high. Hospitals in the city have been overwhelmed with casualties from the strikes, many of them suffering from severe burns, shrapnel injuries, and respiratory complications from smoke inhalation. Medical supplies, already scarce due to Lebanon's ongoing financial crisis, are quickly running out. The Lebanese Red Cross has issued an urgent appeal for blood donations, with volunteers and rescue workers rushing to assist in the evacuation and treatment of the wounded.
International reactions to the escalating violence have been mixed. The United Nations has called for "immediate de-escalation" and urged both sides to return to diplomacy, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressing "grave concern" over the civilian casualties. He stressed the need for dialogue and restraint, warning that the region could not afford another conflict. "The people of Lebanon and Israel deserve peace, not perpetual war," he said in a statement.
The United States, a key ally of Israel, has thus far expressed support for Israel's right to self-defense, while also urging caution in the targeting of civilian areas. "We recognize Israel's legitimate security concerns," said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, "but we also call for all efforts to minimize harm to innocent civilians and to prevent further escalation." European nations, including France and Germany, have echoed similar sentiments, condemning the loss of civilian life and urging both parties to seek diplomatic solutions.
For Beirut's residents, however, the immediate concern is survival. Many are fleeing central Beirut, seeking refuge in safer parts of the city or in the countryside, fearing that more strikes will follow. "I don't know where we will go, but we can't stay here," said a young mother, clutching her two children as she hurried through debris-laden streets. "We have no more home, no more safety."
Amid the chaos, grassroots organizations and volunteers have stepped up to provide relief. Makeshift shelters have been set up in schools and churches, with food and blankets being distributed to those displaced by the attacks. Yet the strain is palpable. Lebanon, already grappling with political instability and economic hardship, is ill-prepared for another wave of mass displacement and infrastructure damage. "We were already on the brink," said a local aid worker. "This might push us over the edge."
As night fell over Beirut, the city's skyline, once marked by towering glass buildings and bustling streets, now bore the scars of conflict. Charred structures loomed in the distance, the faint glow of fires still smoldering in parts of the city. The sound of ambulances and rescue vehicles echoed through the otherwise silent streets, as exhausted residents tried to comprehend the devastation.
There is no clear end in sight to the violence. As tensions between Israel and Hezbollah continue to escalate, the prospect of a wider regional conflict looms larger than ever. And for the people of Beirut, a city that has known war too many times, the hope for peace seems as elusive as ever.
For now, they mourn. Eleven lives lost. Forty-eight more wounded. And a city left to pick up the pieces once again.
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