Lebanese flee by sea as to Cyprus Israeli strikes intensify, jeopardizing region

BEIRUT, Lebanon (MNTV) — Hundreds of Lebanese citizens are fleeing the country by sea as Israeli airstrikes continue for a seventh straight day, with the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah fueling fears of a wider conflict and ground invasion.

At the marina in Dbayeh, north of Beirut, families with means have begun chartering yachts to Cyprus, one of the few remaining routes out of Lebanon.

Flights are largely unavailable, with only one airline operating a route to Cyprus, where the next seat is not available for at least 11 days. Tickets to Turkey, a visa-free destination for Lebanese, are sold out for more than two weeks.

Samar Mahfouz, waiting with her husband and two children, said the decision to leave came after witnessing the destruction of the Dahieh neighborhood on Friday, when Israeli missiles killed Nasrallah in a strike that reverberated across the capital. “When I saw my kids trembling in fear, I knew we could not wait any longer,” she told local media.

The assassination has left Hezbollah’s leadership in turmoil and heightened uncertainty and chaos in Lebanon and the whole region.

Israel’s intensified bombardment over the past week has killed more than 1,000 people and displaced nearly one million, according to government estimates. Schools turned into shelters are overflowing, forcing thousands of families to sleep in the streets.

Travel agencies report unprecedented demand for departures. “The pressure has been insane, especially in the last 72 hours,” said Mohamad Barakat, a Beirut-based agent.

Others unable to secure flights are attempting the land route into Syria, despite heavy Israeli strikes on the Bekaa Valley.

Yacht rentals, costing between $1,500 and $2,000 per person, have surged as one of the only viable exit options.

Elias Khawand, founder of Admiral Yachting, said boats are leaving hourly with up to 10 passengers. “Between 75 and 100 people are departing every day. We are working around the clock because people are desperate,” he said, calling the service a humanitarian necessity.

For many Lebanese, however, the price is prohibitive amid the country’s prolonged economic collapse.

The World Bank has described Lebanon’s financial crisis as among the worst in modern history, leaving many displaced families reliant on government shelters with few resources to escape.

Among those departing was 16-year-old Julia from Beirut, who expressed reluctance about leaving her home.

Her family, from the Shiite-majority neighborhood of Badaro, decided to relocate temporarily to Vienna after nearby strikes intensified. “When the war ends, we’ll come back. Definitely. Our whole life is here,” she said before boarding.

The following day, Israeli forces struck a residential building in central Beirut for the first time since the strikes began, underscoring the growing reach of Israel’s war in the region and deepening uncertainty for those who remain.

Since October 2023, Israel has killed close to a 100,000 people in Palestine and the region, attacked 7 countries in the region, and caused havoc by creating humanitarian catastrophe.