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Beirut Suburb Reels After Israeli Air Strike: Warning Sparks Panic
A routine Friday lunchtime in Beirut’s southern suburbs abruptly transformed into pandemonium when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a stark warning. Posted in Arabic on social media platform X, the IDF spokesperson’s message ignited immediate panic and chaos across Dahieh, a densely populated residential district. The alert, pinpointing a building as a Hezbollah facility and directing the evacuation of nearby schools, foreshadowed an imminent air strike in Beirut, Lebanon.
Sudden Alert Triggers Chaos
“Urgent warning to those in the southern suburb of Beirut,” the IDF message declared. Accompanying the text was a map highlighting a residential structure in red, alongside two adjacent educational institutions. Israeli authorities identified the marked building as a Hezbollah installation, demanding the swift removal of students and staff from the schools.
The announcement signaled an impending aerial attack, plunging the district into turmoil.
Schools Evacuated Amidst Fear
The aftermath of the warning saw scenes of widespread panic. Parents hurried towards the designated zone to retrieve their children from the schools, while residents fled in the opposite direction, exhibiting clear signs of fear and agitation.
“It descended into utter chaos,” recounted Ahmad Alama, principal of St Georges School, one of the institutions identified on the map. “We attempted to manage the situation as effectively as possible, but it was frantic.”
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Subsequently, the targeted area was cleared, and Israeli forces proceeded to destroy the indicated building, asserting it served as a depot for Hezbollah unmanned aerial vehicles.
This strike, occurring a fortnight prior, marked the first instance of bombardment in Dahieh – a stronghold of Hezbollah influence – since the ceasefire agreement concluding hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah last November.
The event transpired hours after two rockets were launched from southern Lebanon towards northern Israel. Israel claimed to have intercepted one projectile, while the other failed to reach the border.
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed political and militant organization, disavowed any involvement in the rocket launch. Israel denounced the rocket fire as a “violation” of the ceasefire, while Lebanese presidential officials condemned the Israeli strike as a “breach of the accord.”
“We believed the cessation of hostilities had brought an end to the conflict,” Mr. Alama stated, “But regrettably, we continue to experience its repercussions daily.”
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has maintained near-constant strikes targeting individuals and locations purportedly linked to Hezbollah, citing efforts to impede Hezbollah’s rearmament. While these strikes have predominantly occurred in southern Lebanon, the recent incursions into Dahieh have generated heightened apprehension.
On April 1st, a second Israeli offensive impacted the area – this time without prior notification – resulting in the death of a Hezbollah commander and three others, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health.
Evacuation Drills Implemented
Mr. Alama has served as the director of St Georges School for three decades. The institution caters to approximately 1,000 students of diverse ages and genders. While religious studies form part of the curriculum for older students, Mr. Alama emphasizes the school’s secular nature.
The school is also recognized within the community for its association with Lebanese pop icon and talent show personality, Ragheb Alama – Ahmad Alama’s brother and the school’s proprietor.
The recently demolished structure is situated mere meters from the school premises. It is not the sole site of devastation in the vicinity. Another edifice, located opposite one of St Georges’ entrances, remains a vast expanse of debris – a consequence of prior Israeli air raids before the ceasefire.
During the war, schools were closed, shielding them from immediate threats like the recent strike. Now reopened, they are preparing for potential future attacks.
Preparedness Measures at St Georges School
The school administration has formulated evacuation protocols, establishing designated emergency assembly points in the basement and predetermined routes for students and staff to follow in case of danger.
Furthermore, enhanced communication strategies with parents are in place to avert a recurrence of the chaotic scenes witnessed during last month’s strike. Students now receive regular reminders of these procedures, complemented by routine evacuation exercises.
Mr. Alama reveals that students, staff, and parents are collectively traumatized by recent events.
Initially, the school considered reducing extracurricular programs to compensate for instructional time lost due to disruptions, but ultimately reversed this decision.
“We opted against that approach,” Mr. Alama explained. “Students should not be penalized for circumstances beyond their control. We have actually augmented these activities – these children require avenues to alleviate their accumulated stress.”
Lingering Reminders of Conflict
Nearly five months into the ceasefire, the renewed Israeli air incursions into Beirut have amplified anxieties concerning a descent back into full-scale war.
The ceasefire agreement was intended to conclude over a year-long period of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, initiated after Hezbollah launched assaults on Israeli military positions the day following the Hamas assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, asserting solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The conflict witnessed escalation in September 2024, when Israel initiated a significant aerial campaign across Lebanon and conducted incursions into the southern region.
Dahieh, once deserted during the peak of the conflict, has regained vibrancy. Businesses have resumed operations, cafes are once again filled with patrons, and the suburb appears as bustling as before, albeit still plagued by persistent traffic congestion.
However, amidst these indicators of normalcy, the remnants of destruction serve as stark reminders of the intense bombardment endured by the area just months prior.
Widespread Destruction in Dahieh
Approximately 346 buildings in the locality were obliterated, with an additional 145 sustaining partial damage from Israeli air strikes, according to a municipal representative. Israel maintained that its targets were Hezbollah infrastructure and weapons caches.
In numerous neighborhoods, debris removal efforts are ongoing. The constant drone of bulldozers and jackhammers echoes as they break down piles of rubble.
Some of the debris mounds are marked with Hezbollah flags, while numerous portraits of Hassan Nasrallah, the former Hezbollah leader killed by Israel during prior conflicts, adorn the roadsides.
Yet, beneath the customary displays of defiance, a profound unease, seldom explicitly voiced – particularly before media – by Dahieh residents, is palpable.
“The devastation is terrifying. Witnessing the demolished buildings brings me to tears,” expressed Sawsan Hariri, headmistress of Burj High School, also situated in Dahieh.
The school, also positioned across from a leveled building, suffered damage from nearby explosions.
“It is disheartening. Traveling the streets, driving – everything is simply depressing.”
Ms. Hariri formerly resided on the top floor of the school building with her family, but their residence was destroyed. They currently occupy a rented apartment nearby.
Prior to the conflict, Burj High School enrolled around 600 students. Currently, enrollment has dwindled to barely 100.
Numerous parents are hesitant to send their children back to school amidst the pervasive destruction and the constant noise of heavy machinery. Others harbor concerns regarding health risks, with significant dust levels still prevalent in the air.
Following the ceasefire, the private school’s owners undertook essential repairs at their own expense.
Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist organization in numerous countries yet holding political and social sway alongside its paramilitary role in Lebanon, has provided those who lost their residences with $12,000 for a year’s rent and offered to fund apartment repair costs. However, educational institutions and similar entities have not received any assistance.
The Lebanese government has pledged to establish a reconstruction fund, estimated by the World Bank to require $11 billion nationwide. Nevertheless, international donors are reportedly insisting on Hezbollah’s disarmament and political reforms – conditions that currently seem improbable.
Although rubble clearing efforts are projected to conclude by year’s end, few anticipate substantial large-scale rebuilding initiatives to materialize in the near future.