Families flee to Beirut’s seafront to escape devastating Israeli attacks

Waves of Israeli attacks on southern areas in Lebanon’s capital kill several people and force many residents to flee.

Beirut, Lebanon – Normally at about 1am on a Saturday morning, parking is easy to find at Ramlet el-Bayda on Beirut’s seafront.

On this Saturday morning, however, cars were bumper to bumper on both sides of the road. Many were double parked and more kept arriving, as people continued to flee the devastating waves of Israeli attacks on southern parts of Lebanon’s capital.

Earlier that evening, the Israeli military levelled a block of buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, killing at least six and wounding another 91. The death toll is likely to rise further.

Israel claimed the intended target was a central Hezbollah headquarters and that Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah has been killed. Hezbollah has yet to issue a statement on his fate.

On the seafront, people laid down mattresses on the pavement or towels down on the beach. Further along the sand, some set up plastic chairs facing the water or sat around tables drinking coffee or smoking argileh pipes. Groups of children ran around and played.