Lebanon is gripped by fear as the Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalates. A unique testimony from within the country paints a vivid picture of the chaos that has unfolded since the launch of the IDF's Operation "Northern Arrows" this week.
"We're praying for a ceasefire," confides a Lebanese woman from the Keserwan district to Israel Hayom. Speaking on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, she expresses frustration with international peace efforts: "The American and French mediators working towards a ceasefire have been utterly disappointing." She adds that many Lebanese are hoping Gaza's Hamas will ask Hezbollah to cease its support, which began on Oct. 8.
The woman describes a dire situation for those displaced by the conflict: "Nobody is taking in refugees from the south, except for Tripoli. Many have fled to Syria. In Christian areas, rents have skyrocketed. There are virtually no apartments available in my area. I've had to turn down over ten rental requests; we can't rent to strangers. I've heard that one town has converted a school into a shelter for the displaced."
From Syria to Lebanon and back again
The refugee crisis in Lebanon is rapidly worsening. Saudi news channel Al-Hadath reports that 23,000 people have crossed into Syria, including more than 12,000 Lebanese citizens and 10,000 Syrian refugees – essentially returning to the country they once fled. Lebanese media warn of criminal gangs seeking to exploit the chaos by targeting vulnerable displaced persons for robbery or kidnapping.
At a New York event, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib stated, "We estimate that half a million people have been forced from their homes in Lebanon since the war began." He expressed disappointment with US President Joe Biden's recent pro-Israel statement but remains hopeful that American-led ceasefire efforts will bear fruit.
Hezbollah has failed
In an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom, Lebanese researcher Joumana Gebara, currently based in Europe, analyzes the impact on Hezbollah: "The organization has suffered both moral and physical damage, with the moral blow being particularly severe." She explained: "Hezbollah has long marketed itself as a 'resistance organization' capable of defending Lebanon with its arsenal. Israel has shattered this illusion – Hezbollah's weapons have failed to protect the organization, Lebanon's territory, or its citizens. They couldn't even capture an inch of Israeli land. The entire narrative of Hezbollah as 'Lebanon's protector' has crumbled, along with its justification for maintaining an armed force."
Gebara noted that assessing the physical damage to Hezbollah remains challenging: "It's too early for accurate estimates. Gathering such information within Lebanon would be seen as an act of treason. There's no room for free expression or independent thought there. Lebanese citizens are extremely restricted in what they can say about Hezbollah. The atmosphere is reminiscent of the Soviet Union, or modern-day North Korea, China, and Russia."
"Nine martyrs are a small price to pay"
Despite the widespread fear, Hezbollah still maintains a strong support base in Shiite villages. One evacuee recently told Lebanese media: "The material damage is insignificant; victory is what matters. We've lost our youth, and our children, and we may lose everything, but praise Allah – Hassan Nasrallah [Hezbollah's Secertary-General] will emerge victorious. Our village has been destroyed, and we've lost nine martyrs, but that's a small price to pay."
A pro-Hezbollah Lebanese journalist echoed this sentiment: "Outsiders don't understand that we grew up with Nasrallah and fought alongside him. His sorrows are our sorrows, his joys our joys, his honor our honor. The Master (Nasrallah) lives an unconventional life, and we can live as we want."
