Sept 26, V7N - Feryal Mehsen, a 58-year-old from the southern Lebanese village of Seddiqine, narrowly survived an Israeli airstrike after evacuating her family in the midst of escalating cross-border violence between Israel and Hezbollah. With southern Lebanon being heavily bombarded by Israeli forces targeting Hezbollah sites, tens of thousands, including Mehsen, have fled their homes. After safely relocating her daughter and grandchildren to Tyre, Mehsen returned to retrieve personal belongings, only to find herself caught in an airstrike that left her in shock and unable to see or hear momentarily.

Now sheltering in Beirut, Mehsen joins many other displaced Lebanese who have sought refuge in the capital. Souad Mahde, 63, similarly fled her village of Qsaibah as strikes crept closer, fearing for her safety. She, like many others, faced long, treacherous journeys on traffic-jammed roads, with bombings occurring nearby.

Although these families have reached Beirut, the sense of security is fleeting. As Mahde describes it, the "atmosphere of war" persists in the city, as Lebanon grapples with escalating violence that mirrors the tensions of previous conflicts, such as the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. The current situation, however, feels even more precarious, with widespread fear and uncertainty overshadowing daily life.

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