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Air Strikes Trigger Panic in Beirut’s Dahieh Suburb
It was an ordinary Friday afternoon in the bustling southern suburb of Beirut, Dahieh, when a singular warning issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) transformed the atmosphere into one of panic and chaos. The warning, sent in Arabic via the social media platform X, urged immediate evacuation from a specific location identified as a Hezbollah facility and gave details about two nearby schools.
The message was clear: an airstrike was imminent.
As the warning spread, parents rushed toward the schools to pick up their children, while other residents fled from the area in visible distress. Ahmad Alama, director of St Georges School, recounted, “It was total chaos… We tried to contain the situation as much as we could, but it was crazy.”
Shortly after the area was cleared, the IDF confirmed the destruction of the targeted building, alleging it was a warehouse for Hezbollah drones. This event marked the first strike on Dahieh since a ceasefire effectively halted hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah last November.
The airstrike occurred only hours after two rockets were fired from southern Lebanon into northern Israel. Although Israel claimed to have intercepted one rocket, the other fell short of the border. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, denied involvement, while the Lebanese president condemned the strike as a breach of the ceasefire agreement.
“We thought the war had ended with the ceasefire,” Mr. Alama noted, adding, “But unfortunately, we’re still living it every day.”
Despite the supposed ceasefire, Israeli forces have continued conducting near-daily airstrikes targeting individuals and infrastructure linked to Hezbollah, claiming a need to prevent Hezbollah from rearming. While attacks have predominantly focused on southern Lebanon, the recent bombings in Dahieh have generated particular alarm.
On April 1, another Israeli strike hit the same region, this time without prior warning, reportedly killing a Hezbollah commander and three others, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
Preparedness Amid Uncertainty
Mr. Alama has been at the helm of St Georges School for three decades, serving approximately 1,000 students across various age groups. Although religious studies are part of the curriculum for older students, he describes the institution as secular. The school has strong ties to the community, not least due to its association with popular Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama, who is Mr. Alama’s brother and the school’s owner.
The recently destroyed building was located mere meters from the school, which, along with other structures, has become a poignant reminder of the conflict’s toll. Another nearby building remains a massive rubble pile, a testament to Israeli airstrikes prior to the ceasefire.
With schools reopened, St Georges has implemented evacuation plans, marking emergency meeting points and designated escape routes to protect students and staff from future attacks. The administration has introduced new communication strategies with parents to mitigate the panic experienced during the last strike. Regular evacuation drills are now on the agenda to ensure everyone is prepared.
Mr. Alama noted that both students and staff are still grappling with the trauma from recent events. Initially, the school considered cutting back on extracurricular activities to compensate for lost educational time but ultimately decided against it. “Pupils shouldn’t pay the price for something they aren’t responsible for. We’ve actually ended up increasing these activities – these kids need to release some of the pressure on them,” he stated.
A Fragile Normalcy
Nearly five months after the ceasefire, the resurgence of Israeli airstrikes in Dahieh has stoked fears of a return to full-scale war. The ceasefire was established to conclude over 13 months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated when Hezbollah attacked Israeli military positions in solidarity with Palestinians following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
The situation worsened in September 2024 when Israel initiated a massive air campaign across Lebanon, including an invasion of southern regions. Despite shops reopening and a bustling atmosphere returning to Dahieh, the remnants of destruction loom large, comprising a stark reminder of the violence the area endured just months ago.
According to local officials, around 346 buildings have been destroyed, while an additional 145 suffered partial damage due to Israeli airstrikes, targeted at what Israel describes as Hezbollah facilities and arms caches. Even as reconstruction efforts appear to embark, the clearing of rubble continues amidst ongoing daily reminders of the past conflicts.
Some debris piles are adorned with Hezbollah flags, while portraits of Hassan Nasrallah, the former Hezbollah leader killed during the conflict, are prominently displayed. Yet amid these symbols of resilience, many residents express concerns about their precarious safety. “The destruction is terrifying. I see the destroyed buildings and I cry,” remarked Sawsan Hariri, headteacher of Burj High School, also situated in Dahieh.
Like many institutions in the area, Burj High School has seen enrollment dwindle. From 600 students pre-war, current enrollment barely reaches 100, as fears surrounding safety and health risks—concerning the lingering dust from destruction—have deterred parents from sending their children back.
While there have been some repairs funded by private school owners after the ceasefire, significant support is lagging. Hezbollah, recognized as a terrorist organization by many countries but viewed differently in Lebanon as a political entity, has provided some aid to families displaced from their homes. However, schools and other critical institutions remain without assistance.
The Lebanese government has announced plans for a reconstruction fund, with an initial estimate of $11 billion needed for nationwide recovery. Yet, international donors reportedly seek political reforms and the disarmament of Hezbollah as conditions, making substantial improvements seem a distant reality. Although the rubble clearing aims for completion by year-end, widespread rebuilding appears unlikely in the immediate future.
Source
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