Rumours and Fire

Rumous in Beirut are that a massacre in southern Lebanon is currently under way. Israeli artillery barrages are reportedly pounding certain villages, in which residents were warned to leave with pamphlets, but for some reason could not.

The problem appears to be one of implementation. the Education Minister, Qabbani, issued orders but the schools are not responding. However, later the Minister refuted such claims and asserted that schools have been opened.

All major roads leading anywhere in Lebanon (between cities and towns) have been cut off. The Lebanese isolated; staying in homes and bracing themselves.

Il-Dahyeh and Haret Hreik are under heavy artillery fire. News report that the Hizbullah headquarters have been decimated.

Al-Masna'a area, the last part of the Damascus-Beirut highways that is part of the Lebanese territories, has been hit.

Jabal Turbol next to Tripoli in the north has been raided. The Akkar and Dinnieh, two regions in the north, have been cut off. And an electricity power plant in Minieh in the north has been hit. I'm trying to call my family who are in the north and cannot reach them.

More to come....

Addendum: Just a thought that came to my mind: PM Seniora in his interview with CNN yesterday said that the Lebanese want safety and security for their children and Israeli's children. He said that this won't happen overnight, but Israel must create an atmosphere that is conducive for us to move to that point. Seniora asserted the government's respect for international resolutions and law. This means that PM Seniora openly does not endorse what Hizbullah is doing and if given an opportunity he will move towards their disarmament. PM Seniora will go down in history as a true statesman.

Update: Most European countries and the U.S. are arranging for the evacuation of their nationals. What does that mean? Worst things are to come. Allah yistor!

Update 2: Not rumors anymore - 23 already have died in an attack on the village of Marooheen. Jdaidet Yabous is being hit, an area which is on the Lebanon-Syria border, but on the Syrian side.

Addendum 2: For all commentors: We don't have a strong government. We are just starting to build ourself after the Syrians left last year. The Syrian military-intelligence apparatus controlled every aspect of Lebanese life and government. We are just starting to talk; yes we might have failed because we were not seizing the moment, but we were just starting to talk. Something that we couldn't do when the Syrians were there.

Hizbullah has almost betrayed us. Betrayed the dialogue, everyone. But let's face it: The Israeli attacks have completely paralyzed the political body of the country. So how can something be done?

Yes, sometimes all what we have is rhetoric. But for those who don't know history: PM Seniora, who is a Sunni Muslim, saying that he does not endorse and is not responsible for what Hizbullah did is a breakthrough. His saying that he longs for peace on both sides is a breakthrough. Alluding that Hizbullah should be disarmed is a breakthrough!

So give me a break!

Update 3: Israel says warplanes are bombing roads and bridges near Masnaa border checkpoint to prevent Hizbullah from taking 2 captured soldiers out of Lebanon. Israel Radio says Nasrallah is hiding in a tunnel under Hizbullah's headquarters in Haret Hreik.

Syrian sources deny that Syrian military checkpoints were targeted by Israeli fire.

Update 4: My whole extended family were able to spot Israeli warships from the Tripoli port; they are freaked out and are all heading to the mountains.

Update 5: Il-Dahyeh is being hit further. Ba'albeck is being hit right now.

We are left alone to fend for ourselves. What will the Arab leaders do now? They are meeting in Cairo right now. But if the UN Security Council could not decide on a ceasfire, then the Arabs will? Since when did the Arabs help Lebanon, more than just let Syria get away with everything in the name of al-ourouba.

Hearing on TV that some Lebanese in Majayoun are taking out their guns to fend for themselves. As refugees from the south are heading to the Chouf and Beirut, they are being hit by Israeli raids. Who is there to protect them? Lebanon is on its own!

Update 6: Tabarayya is being hit right now with more Hizbullah rockets; it's the furthest point that the rockets reached the depth of Israel.

Update 7: IDF informing the villages next to the Israeli border, in Bint Jbeil, that any car after 7PM leaving the villages will be hit. That's after one hour from now.

"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."