Bombs on Beirut as Lebanon on the brink of definitive war

The roads were completely gridlocked and mile-long lines formed along the escape routes. It is an exodus of biblical proportions.

A rain of bombs fell over Beirut last Thursday night. A total of 11 violent explosions kept the Lebanese capital and its inhabitants awake all night long. The Israeli military claims to have leveled a Hezbollah command center, which it described as “the headquarters of Hezbollah's executive council.” 

On Friday morning, the city is practically paralyzed. There are few cars on the streets, schools are closed and there is a surreal silence for those accustomed to the vital chaos of Beirut mornings. In the small grocery stores – the dukkeni, the beating heart of neighborhood life – and in homes, everyone is glued to the TV for the latest news.

The bombardments began at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday night, following endless hours of waiting after the evacuation order arrived at 2 p.m. The neighborhoods of Jamous, Msharrafieh, Haret Hreik, Maamoura, Kafaat and Bourj el-Barajneh were hit. This is nothing new; these are the same places where the war had already taken a........

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