Amid bombings, Lebanese go skiing to escape war fears

Lebanese escape war fears by skiing in Kfardebian, seeking normalcy amid Israel-Hezbollah tensions, economic struggles.

Days ago, Tala Assaad could hear Israeli strikes near south Lebanon's coastal city of Sidon. Now, she's having lunch at a packed ski resort, eager to disconnect from news of war.

This winter, more well-heeled Lebanese have been hitting the slopes north of Beirut as Lebanon's Hezbollah and arch-foe Israel exchange near-daily fire in the country's south, amid fears of all-out conflict as the Gaza war rages.

Ms. Assaad, 17, said her house in Shehim shook after Israel struck just some 15 kilometres (nine miles) away — a rare bombardment deep into Lebanon that wounded at least 14 people, mostly Syrian workers. Israel said it targeted Hezbollah weapons depots.

"Skiing is an outlet that helps us disconnect from the situation we're in," said Ms. Assaad in Kfardebian, around 80 kilometres from border areas where the violence has displaced nearly 90,000 people, according to the United Nations.

Lebanon's powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement says it has been acting in support of ally Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza with its attacks on Israel since October 8.

But in the mountain town of Kfardebian, recently crowned the region's winter tourism capital for 2024 by the Arab Tourism Organization, a semblance of normalcy prevails.

Long queues criss-cross the snow-covered slopes leading to the ski lifts, while skiers and snowboarders glide past.