Half a Million Flee Beirut in Single Hour as Israeli Bombing Looms

The southern suburbs of Beirut are now a ghost town. The usual crowds are gone, replaced by rubble and fires. The change happened in an instant. A warning alert sounded on half a million mobile phones at once. After a pause, a collective gasp spread through the city. More than 500,000 people were suddenly ordered to evacuate, made instantly homeless. Panic followed. The streets filled with the sound of gunshots into the air, frantic phone calls, and car horns. Thousands abandoned their vehicles. They began a slow, desperate march toward the sea, trying to escape. They fled knowing Israeli bombs would soon strike their homes—whether they were empty or not.