ISRAEL intensified its attacks on Hezbollah starting October 2023. Even after the November 2024 ceasefire, Israeli drones and helicopters are still hovering over Lebanese cities. The latest episode is proving to be the deadliest in the series of the decades-old Israel-Lebanon conflict. Trapped in the cycle of recent escalations are innocent people. But they don't leave. Lebanon is home, they say. They tell their stories... of death, destruction, damage, loss and love for their land.
Story 1: The Enemy Bombed My Beloved City
On September 23, 2024, at 6 am, the people of Tyre, a city in South Lebanon-not very far from the southern border region where the Israel-Hezbollah war has intensified since October 2023-woke up to the sounds of missiles. Gia (24), her family, and the others knew they had to evacuate and rush to a safe zone. "I was packing, and I heard a 'whoosh' sound, and then 'boom' it went off. We could see the smoke from our window. I told my sister, 18, not to panic. But we knew we had to leave," says Gia.
The family left home, all their stuff, and more importantly, their precious memories-not knowing when they would be back. On the main road, they encountered millions of cars, all leaving the city, heading to safer places. Gia and her family reached Mount Lebanon-a mountainous region in central Lebanon-at 11:30 pm. "The traffic was hectic. After arriving, we started looking for a house where we could stay for a few days. At least two-three families were living in one house. It was tough. I am recalling all that now," says Gia, choked with emotion, in a voice note sent on WhatsApp from her grandmom's house in Tyre.
This story is from the January 21, 2025 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 21, 2025 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Nomadland
All eyes are on President-elect Donald Trump and his policy on immigration
Far from Home
We have forgotten the plight of Afghans who fled to India, and continue to suffer
Bang Bang That Awful Sound
What happens when we listen closely to the soundscape of war?
Refugee Dilemma
For most Indian-origin Sri Lankan Tamils, who are victims of ethnic conflict and civil war, proving that they are not illegal migrants is a nearly impossible task
They Poured Fire on Us
The resilience of refugee women from Sudan, Ethiopia and Yemen in the face of war and displacement is remarkable
The Sound and the Fury
Iraqi poet, novelist, translator and scholar Sinan Antoon was born and raised in Baghdad.
The Day I Became a Woman
In a country where authorities have been directly engaging in the gruesome war against women for decades, artists like Nahid Hassanzadeh stand apart as a voice of dissent–a haunting reminder of the unwavering spirit of the rebellious Iranian women fighting against the Islamic Republic’s violent crackdown.
The Kite Runner
The official figure of civilian deaths in Afghanistan is a serious underestimate. It is unlikely that we will ever know the real cost of Afghan lives
American Patriot
Barring a few exceptions, Hollywood movies continue to be gung-ho about the United States' penchant for waging wars across the globe
The Hunters
How can Bangladesh's fractured society, burdened by layers of trauma, begin to heal?