War in Lebanon: Innocence Lost
In Beirut, Lebanon, 12-year-old Zahra woke up in fear on Monday morning, the aftermath of ongoing cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel. Fleeing her village to Beirut’s suburbs due to bombings, Zahra faced another scare when warned about her building being targeted.
No place left to sleep
As the conflict escalated, Zahra and her family sought refuge in Baabda, away from the deadly Israeli airstrikes that took hundreds of lives and displaced thousands. Schools turned into shelters, people fled with uncertainty, and the horrors of war were evident across Lebanon.
‘We saw death today’
The strikes hit towns and villages indiscriminately, with tragic losses of children and women. Amid the chaos, warnings from Israeli officials seemed hollow, leaving many feeling unsafe and displaced.
‘Liars … supporting the genocide’
Fueled by anger at the international community’s inaction, Lebanon’s residents, like Zahra, yearn for peace. The relentless cycle of conflicts and displacement has taken a toll on innocence, creating a longing for normalcy and a place to call home.