In Tyre, a city in southern Lebanon, an elderly man walks past a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike. Conversations in this area are now rushed, as it’s dangerous to stay outside too long.
Fewer people remain in the city, with the streets becoming emptier every day, and constant Israeli bombing and Hezbollah’s rocket fire interrupting daily life.
Israeli drones fly overhead, and cars are rare on the roads, making it even more dangerous for anyone who ventures out.
According to the BBC, over one million people have been forced to flee, leaving many civilians without homes. Buildings have been abandoned, streets deserted, and rescue teams have evacuated the area after receiving warnings from Israel. The sound of airstrikes is now common, and the blasts shake windows in the city.
In Tyre’s hospitals, doctors are exhausted, caring for injured women and children. One doctor, as reported by the BBC, spoke about nine-year-old Mariam, who was badly hurt but is now recovering. Many doctors no longer go home as it’s too dangerous to travel, and they care for about 30-35 wounded children and women every day.
The BBC also reports that Tyre’s ancient beauty is now lost in the war. Its Roman ruins and golden beaches are deserted. One local man, Hassan Manna, refuses to leave despite the destruction. His coffee shop remains open, and he serves coffee to those who still come for a chat. His neighbors, five civilians, were killed by an Israeli strike, but Hassan says he will stay in his home, even if it means dying there.
As the war rages on, the people of Tyre feel the weight of the destruction. Hassan, grieving and angry, told the BBC that his neighbors were innocent, and there were no Hezbollah fighters or weapons in their home. Israel says it aims to target Hezbollah, but locals like Hassan say the reality is different.
The war is taking a heavy toll, and no one in Lebanon, Israel, or even Washington knows what the future holds, according to the BBC.
Many people, including locals in Lebanon, feel like they are trapped in a dark tunnel, uncertain of when or if they’ll see the light at the end.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp394rx53qro