BEIRUT – Smoke billowed from Beirut’s southern suburbs, a stark reminder of the turmoil that had forced families to flee their homes the night before to escape Israel’s relentless bombardment.

The night had been filled with fear and chaos as explosions rocked the city, leaving many scrambling to find shelter in overflowing schools-turned-shelters. By morning, hundreds of families found themselves sleeping in public squares, on beaches, or in cars around Beirut.

As the sun rose, lines of people with infants and sparse belongings trudged up towards the mountains overlooking the Lebanese capital.

Overnight, Israel had unleashed a barrage of strikes on Dahiyeh, the predominantly Shiite suburbs in Beirut, claiming the life of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday.

This marked a significant escalation in a week-long series of attacks by Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 700 people in Lebanon. Israel’s aim was to dismantle Hezbollah and put an end to months of cross-border attacks that Nasrallah had described as support for Hamas in Gaza.

The mounting displaced population swelled the numbers in Beirut, with families seeking refuge from the ongoing destruction.

Among them were Syrians and Lebanese who had lived through the ravages of war before, seeking safety once again.

Fatima Chahine, a Syrian refugee, recounted the harrowing journey she and her family had taken to escape the violence, seeking solace on the beaches of Beirut.

As the crisis deepened, humanitarian assistance struggled to keep up with the escalating displacement, leaving many stranded without aid.

Despite the hardships, many of the displaced maintained a sense of resilience and defiance, refusing to be cowed by the chaos around them.