In central Beirut’s Ramada hotel, a few metres away from Lebanon’s landmark Pigeon Rocks, no one expected an Israeli strike to disturb the relative safety of this touristy area.<\/p>\n
The rock formation, which comprises a natural arch and neighbouring sea stack, decorates the area of Raouche, facing a large banner that reads “beautiful romantic scenery”.<\/p>\n
They stood witness to Israel’s first attack on central Beirut since the start of its new war against Hezbollah.<\/p>\n
The health ministry said four people were killed in the Ramada, a four-star hotel, when a strike hit a fourth-floor room, leaving it a large blackened hole.<\/p>\n
Windows in neighbouring rooms were also shattered, as were the windscreens of several cars in the street.<\/p>\n
“Look at how precise the strike was, it was probably a drone,” said a bystander who was mingling with journalists.<\/p>\n
Israel’s military said it had “conducted a precise strike targeting key commanders” in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, its foreign operations arm.<\/p>\n
It launched multiple waves of strikes this week across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas after the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel on Monday in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n
“Anyone could have died if they were unlucky enough to be near the targeted building,” Mohammed Zaher, an engineer who was walking along the sunny coastline, told , decrying that “Israel does not care about civilians”.<\/p>\n
“People usually come to this area to relax, to unwind, to enjoy the sea, the beach, the tranquillity, the beauty, the cleanliness and the safety.”<\/p>\n
– ‘Nowhere is safe’ –<\/p>\n
Zainab, a 41-year-old who had been sleeping in her car with her husband and three children since escaping Israeli bombing of southern Lebanon, was woken up by the sound of the explosion.<\/p>\n
“We rushed out and ran away” she said, as dozens of panicked guests were fleeing the hotel with their luggage.<\/p>\n
“During the previous war, we also came here,” she added, referring to the 2024 war between Hezbollah and Israel, which a ceasefire in November of that year sought to end.<\/p>\n
“In the past, we used to come here for a stroll. We would come to Raouche and Manara, sit down, smoke shisha, and then return to our village… now nowhere in Lebanon is safe.”<\/p>\n
Her fears were shared by other passers-by.<\/p>\n
“There is no safe place anymore,” Salem Zeaiter, a Lebanese man who lives in Sweden but was visiting home, told as he and his wife took selfies in front of the rocks.<\/p>\n
“We came here on holiday two days before the war started,” he added.<\/p>\n
“The weather is nice and the food is good, I have many memories from this place, as I played here when I was younger… it’s over now.”<\/p>\n
A mix of tanned athletes and wandering families swarmed on the seaside corniche, while Lebanese authorities struggled to manage the influx of hundreds of thousands of displaced people.<\/p>\n
Tents had been erected under palm trees to accommodate those who could not afford a hotel and had not found space in schools serving as shelters.<\/p>\n
Mothers sat on mattresses feeding their babies, while idle teenagers chain-smoked.<\/p>\n
“Of course I fear the strikes could happen again and affect my work and the security of the area, forcing me to move my business to another location,” said Moussa, who runs a small cafe next to the Ramada.<\/p>\n
On the other side of the road, Hassan, a valet working for a local restaurant, waited for customers who were nowhere to be found.<\/p>\n
“Raouche is a touristy area, but it has now become deserted,” he said.<\/p>\n
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