Image Source: Al Jazeera
Beirut – On Friday, an Israeli airstrike hit the Lebanon-Syria border crossing, a critical route where hundreds of thousands of civilians had been fleeing Israel’s relentless bombardment across Lebanon. The destruction of this vital passage has stranded many Lebanese civilians, cutting off one of the few remaining exits from the conflict zone.
For many, this crossing was one of the last viable escape routes to Syria or nearby areas. With it now in ruins, civilians are trapped in an increasingly dangerous situation, facing the ongoing threat of Israeli attacks and limited access to humanitarian aid.
This strike is seen as part of a broader pattern in which Israel cites military targets to justify strikes on public areas. Similar to Gaza, where over 42,000 Palestinians have been killed, the devastation in Lebanon is disproportionately affecting civilians, raising concerns about the true objectives of these operations.
In a post on X, an Israeli official defended the strikes, claiming Hezbollah used the crossing to transport military supplies into Lebanon.
However, Lebanese News Producer Ibrahim Zayat noted that in recent days, civilians had been using the Masnaa crossing to escape the Israeli bombardment. He described the relentless Israeli aggression as part of a “new genocide,” underscoring the catastrophic impact on the civilian population.
“For more than ten days, this border crossing has been the main point for hundreds of thousands to flee to Syria for safety. This is our main crossing into Syria and the rest of the Arab world, and it was bombed this morning by Israel.”
Overnight, Israel also conducted airstrikes across southern Lebanon’s suburbs, warning residents to evacuate. Zayat described the area as a “ghost town” after the strikes, some of the worst since the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah.
As in occupied Palestine, specifically Gaza, Israel continues to bomb densely populated civilian areas in Lebanon, claiming military targets, particularly Hezbollah, are the objective. However, the strikes frequently hit areas near hospitals, schools, and residential neighborhoods, often with little or no warning, leaving Lebanese civilians with no safe refuge anywhere.
“Israel is bombing like a monster. Everything is destroyed. They didn’t quench their thirst for blood in Gaza, and now they’ve turned to Lebanon,” Zayat remarked.
Despite the widespread death, displacement, and destruction, Zayat noted that Hezbollah has gained significant support from the Lebanese public. He emphasised that Israel’s attacks have united the nation, especially as Hezbollah has responded effectively to Israel’s attempted ground incursions.
“This level of support for Hezbollah was unexpected. Hezbollah is gaining widespread public backing. Because Israel is committing crimes worse than in 2006, there’s a growing sense of national unity—unity against Israel.”
