Fear and tension in Lebanon under deadly Israeli bombardment

A member of the Lebanese civil defense offers support to a woman who has just arrived in Beirut after escaping from the southern region.

In southern Lebanon, families hurried to gather their things and travel north using cars, trucks, and motorcycles while the Israeli military targeted sites it claimed were associated with the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah.

Some locals reported getting alerts via text messages and voice recordings from the Israeli military, advising them to evacuate areas close to the positions of the Iran-supported group.

Zahra Sawli, a student from the southern town of Nabatieh, shared with the BBC's Newshour program that the shelling has been very heavy.

I was awakened at 6 in the morning by the noise of explosions. By midday, the situation escalated significantly, and I noticed numerous attacks happening nearby.

"I could hear a lot of glass breaking."

Unlike others, she and her companions stayed inside the house—they were too afraid to go out, as she explained.

"Where are we meant to go? Many people are still trapped on the roads. Several of my friends are caught in traffic as countless others are trying to escape," she remarked.

By midday, the roads leading north to Beirut were jam-packed with cars, with vehicles traveling towards the city on either side of a six-lane highway along the coast.

Additional photos captured individuals strolling on the beach in the southern city of Tyre while plumes of smoke billowed from airstrikes happening in the nearby countryside.

The BBC interviewed a family of five who had traveled to Beirut on just one motorcycle.

They were traveling from a southern village to Tripoli in the north, and they felt completely drained.

"What do you expect us to say? We had no choice but to escape," the father replied.

"What do you expect us to say? We had no choice but to escape," the man told the BBC.

As of Monday evening, the Lebanese health ministry announced that 492 individuals had lost their lives and over 1,600 had sustained injuries due to the airstrikes. The report noted that at least 35 of the deceased were children. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported conducting 1,100 airstrikes in the last day alone.

This involved an aerial attack in southern Beirut, which the IDF claimed was aimed at a high-ranking Hezbollah leader.

Beirut was filled with unease as well. Many individuals from the southern regions drove into the capital, their cars loaded with suitcases tied on top, while some locals chose to leave the city.

Israel has advised residents to leave regions where it claims Hezbollah is keeping weapons. Additionally, it has issued recorded alerts to individuals in several parts of Beirut that are not typically associated with Hezbollah, including Hamra, which hosts government buildings, banks, and universities.

Parents hurried to collect their kids from school after receiving additional alerts to evacuate the vicinity.

One father, Issa, decided to pull his son out of school and explained to Reuters, “We’re here because of the phone calls.”

"They're making phone calls and threatening people. That's why we're here to pick my son up from school. It's a really unsettling situation," he stated.

As people depart from the coastal city of Tyre, located in southern Lebanon, they pack up their belongings after it was struck on Monday.

Mohammed, a Palestinian traveling with his wife, shared his thoughts with the BBC as they were leaving Beirut.

When questioned about whether he would remain in the capital, he responded, "In Lebanon, there's no place that feels secure. Israel is claiming they will strike in various locations. They've now made threats towards this area—so where are we supposed to go?"

"It’s overwhelming. I’m not sure what my next step should be—should I stay at work, head home, or do something else entirely? I’m feeling lost."

As a BBC team was getting ready on one side of the street, a taxi driver shouted out, wondering if they were aware of the fuel crisis that was developing. "There are just too many people arriving in Beirut," he remarked.

Schools have quickly been turned into shelters to accommodate the influx of evacuees arriving from the south. Following a government directive, educational institutions in Beirut, Tripoli, and eastern Lebanon have been designated as refuge locations.

On Monday, the BBC visited a classroom in a public school located in Bir Hasan, a neighborhood in west Beirut. The classroom was being set up to accommodate individuals arriving from the Bekaa Valley, an area in northeastern Lebanon known for being a stronghold of Hezbollah, which Israel has stated it is also focusing on.

The classrooms were filled with mattresses, but by the end of the day, workers noted that all the spots would be taken.

There have been long lines at gas stations in Beirut.

In the meantime, hospitals in Lebanon received instructions to postpone all non-emergency surgeries on Monday, as doctors prepared for an influx of patients with wounds and injuries.

Even with the stressful and unpredictable situation in Beirut, some individuals remained resolute.

“In the event of a total war, we must unite as Lebanese citizens, setting aside our political differences, because ultimately, it’s our nation that is under attack,” a man shared with the BBC.

Some people felt a sense of acceptance towards the violence.

"If they desire conflict, what choice do we have? It was forced upon us. There's nothing we can do," stated shopkeeper Mohammed Sibai in an interview with Reuters.

Mohammed, a 57-year-old resident of Dahieyh, a neighborhood in southern Beirut that serves as Hezbollah's stronghold, shared with the BBC that he has "endured all the conflicts since 1975," so for him, it's just part of life.

"I won't go anywhere; I'll stay at home," he stated.