Chaos reigns at Beirut airport amid fears of escalation in the Middle East.
Many flights have been canceled, and passengers have been waiting for hours for a flight to depart from Lebanon, according to a report by the French Press Agency.
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“I didn’t plan to leave. I wanted to spend the whole summer in Lebanon and then return to France for work,” said Joëlle Sfeir, who is waiting in the crowded departure hall. But “my flight was canceled, and I had to book another ticket for today,” said the young Lebanese woman.
Like many of her compatriots who work or study abroad, Sfeir took advantage of the summer holidays to visit relatives and friends who remain in the country. However, following the assassination last Wednesday of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the Israeli strike in Beirut the day before, which killed Hezbollah military leader Fuad Sukr, many airlines, including Lufthansa and Air France, suspended their flights to and from Beirut.
At the same time, after threats of retaliation against Israel, many countries (Sweden, the USA, Britain, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) urged their citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible.
Furthermore, memories of the previous war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006 are still fresh. That summer, the Beirut airport was bombed.
In the departure lounge, entire families, with children in their parents’ arms, watch over their piles of luggage and the flight schedule board – most flights are destined for Istanbul, Amman, and Cairo.
“I was in Syria, but the situation became a bit difficult, and my flight, which was scheduled for tomorrow, was canceled. So, I’m trying to leave today,” explained a passenger, Munder Raya.
“Flood of Phone Calls” from Passengers
Greta Mukarzel, the manager of a travel agency near Beirut, said she has received a “flood of phone calls” from customers wanting to leave and fearing they will be stranded in Lebanon. However, it is difficult to find seats due to many canceled flights and increased demand, especially to European countries, she explained. “And many Lebanese who were coming for vacation canceled their bookings,” she added.
Near the arrivals area, which is usually crowded this time of year, very few people are waiting to greet their loved ones.
On the road to the airport, which crosses the southern suburbs of Beirut – a stronghold of Hezbollah – a giant banner featuring the photos of Ismail Haniyeh and Fuad Sukr warns: “We will take revenge.”
Sources: APE-MPE, AFP