We Are Isolated, Tired, Scared”: Lebanon Reels After Devastating Pager Attacks

 

The recent attacks on Lebanon have sent shockwaves throughout the nation, leaving its citizens grappling with fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty. The tragic incident, which has been linked to Israeli military actions, resulted in the deaths of 42 individuals and left nearly 3,500 injured, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.

The devastation began on Tuesday and Wednesday when explosions targeted pagers and walkie-talkies across Beirut and southern Lebanon. These blasts disrupted funerals and daily life, leaving behind physical destruction and deep psychological scars.

One funeral in southern Beirut was cut short, an unusual departure from the customary 90-minute ceremonies that honor Hezbollah’s fallen. Women marched directly alongside pallbearers to bury their loved ones, but as the overzealous Hezbollah staff began packing up, the scene dissolved into a somber quiet. Ten minutes later, mourners filtered past ad hoc army checkpoints, unsure of what to expect next.

Saeed, a 25-year-old driving instructor, recounted the traumatic experience of being just meters away from an explosion at a funeral. “My friend’s father lost his eyes in the blasts. We’ve never seen an attack like this, everyone was shocked,” he said, reflecting the collective grief and disbelief that has engulfed the country.

An hour after the burial, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah made his first public appearance since the attacks. His tone, soft and subdued, was in stark contrast to his usual fiery rhetoric. Nasrallah acknowledged that Lebanon had been dealt a significant blow, calling it “unprecedented in the history of the resistance.” Despite the devastation, he vowed that the attack “would not bring us down,” reassuring his supporters that Hezbollah would continue its fight.

As Nasrallah addressed the nation, the roar of Israeli fighter jets punctuated the air, flying dangerously low over Beirut and releasing flares. The sonic booms rattled windows and sent shockwaves of fear through the capital, a chilling reminder of the ongoing conflict. Residents in the Achrafieh district ventured onto their balconies, straining to glimpse the aircraft as the noise reverberated through the streets.

Meanwhile, in the Christian town of Rmeish near the Lebanese-Israeli border, the situation was equally tense. Father Najib al-Amil, a local priest, described the relentless shelling that surrounded his town, with thick clouds of smoke filling the air. “Until now, [Rmeish] is OK, but we don’t know what will happen. We are isolated, tired and scared,” Father Amil said.

Rmeish’s precarious position, sandwiched between frequently bombarded towns, has heightened fears of becoming a target. Although the village has largely been spared, the community remains on edge, unsure of what the future holds. Father Amil has worked to maintain a delicate balance, fostering a relationship with Hezbollah while ensuring that Christian villages are not used as staging grounds for attacks against Israel.

The ongoing attacks and uncertainty have left Lebanon in a state of psychological limbo. Just three weeks prior, Nasrallah had assured the nation that it could “take a breath and relax” following Hezbollah’s retaliation for Israel’s assassination of its military chief of staff. But this period of calm was fleeting, as Tuesday’s attacks once again plunged the country into turmoil.

Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, ominously declared that the war was entering a new phase, fueling fears that a full-scale conflict may be on the horizon. Pictures of tanks being transported to northern Israel spread across Lebanese social media, prompting widespread speculation about what could come next.

Despite the mounting tensions, many of Hezbollah’s supporters remain steadfast in their loyalty. “Our leadership is wise, and they will choose what the retaliation will be,” Saeed said, expressing confidence in Nasrallah’s decision-making. For many, the attacks are seen as part of a long struggle – one that they must endure in pursuit of victory.

As Lebanon braces for what comes next, its people are left grappling with the stark reality of their situation: isolated, tired, and scared, but still clinging to hope.