In the early hours of the morning, southern Beirut experienced one of the most intense bombardments in nearly two decades. The streets were filled with displaced people seeking refuge from the Israeli warplanes targeting their neighborhoods.
On the seaside boardwalk, families were seen camping out, with women cradling sleeping babies and children wandering the streets in their pajamas. The scene was one of exhaustion and uncertainty as residents fled their homes with only the clothes on their backs.
Amid the chaos, acts of solidarity emerged as a crowd outside an abandoned building opened its doors to provide shelter for the displaced. The city's commercial Hamra Street also saw an influx of exhausted arrivals seeking safety.
Despite the fear and anxiety, many residents tried to maintain a sense of normalcy, with one woman reassuring those around her that everything would be okay.
As the night wore on, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for parts of southern Beirut, including the densely populated Bourj el Barajneh neighborhood. Shortly after, strikes hit the area, leaving the fate of its residents uncertain.
Throughout the night, the city remained on edge, with restaurants and cafes staying open as explosions lit up the sky in the distance. The people of Beirut anxiously awaited the dawn, hoping to find their homes and city intact amidst the ongoing turmoil.
