Lebanese displaced by the ongoing Israeli attacks remain defiant over the prospect of an expanded conflict in Lebanon, saying that their country has the right and will to fight back against Israel.
In a sign of major escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced early Tuesday morning that its troops had launched "limited, localized and targeted ground raids" against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
As the new and dangerous phase between the two sides' exchange of fire unfolds, the Israeli military has called on residents in more than two dozen villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate and stay away "until further notice."
The total number of displaced persons in Lebanon due to Israeli strikes has risen to nearly 1.2 million, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Lebanese Council of Ministers.
"Most of the children were scared, even by the sound of the smallest bombs. The missiles terrified the children, so we had to carry our children and get out of the bombed place, as well as families who were harmed without any reason. Nobody's family was left," said Abu Ali Al-Omar, a displaced Lebanese, in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) at a shelter in Beirut on Wednesday.
Another displaced citizen named Izdehar Aldeiaa struck a defiant note, saying the Lebanese people will not back down from the Israeli incursion.
"We are sure they would respond. We trust our leaders that when they say something, they will do it, even if it was a late response. We are not afraid of an expanded war in Lebanon, as long as we have the right to fight. We own this land; they are attacking us. We didn't harm them. Let them do whatever they want, we have people who can respond and who can lead us to the place we're supposed to be. Whoever dies will go to God as a martyr and whoever remains will celebrate the victory," she said.
Zakaria Hammoudan, a political researcher, said Israel will likely expand its ground offensive inside Lebanon, after bombarding nearly 18 Lebanese villages near the border, but Hezbollah remains undeterred in its response.
"Infiltrating Lebanon's border using the classical military mindset is normal. Battles can never be decisive without ground operations. But the readiness of the resistance [from Hezbollah] in the battlefield, which we discussed couple days ago, has shown effectiveness yesterday," he told CGTN.
According to the Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Lebanese Council of Ministers, most displaced individuals have relocated to their homes in other areas, stayed with family, rented accommodations, or found shelter in public or private spaces, while thousands traveled by air or crossed into Syria.
The Arab League announced Wednesday that it would hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the latest situation in Lebanon, especially the situation of the displaced and refugees and the provision of humanitarian aid to Lebanon.
Displaced Lebanese voice defiance over Israeli attacks
