Newsroom
Thousands of civilians are fleeing southern Lebanon as intense Israeli airstrikes target Hezbollah positions, creating a mass exodus that has choked major roads leading to Beirut.
Images circulating online show families crammed into overloaded vehicles, desperate to escape the ongoing bombardment. As people flee northward, traffic congestion has become overwhelming, with the flow of evacuees slowing to a crawl.
The death toll in Lebanon from Israeli airstrikes has risen to 558, including 50 children and 94 women, according to Health Minister Firaz Abiad. The total number of wounded stands at 1,835.
In Sidon, central Lebanon, the country’s national news agency reports surging crowds at gas stations and bakeries as displaced people from the south seek refuge. Authorities are patrolling the city to prevent price exploitation in light of the conflict.
The mass exodus has also impacted flights, with cancellations reported for destinations including Egypt, Germany, Iraq, Jordan, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UAE.
Before the recent escalation, tens of thousands had already been displaced due to ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, with 60,000 people evacuated from northern Israel.
