BTN News: Lebanon is a country where the complex politics and strong people come together in interesting ways. Recently, there have been worries about an increase in the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. This has caused some airlines to cancel flights to Lebanon. However, this tension did not seem to affect the normal operations at Beirut’s airport. Many travelers ignored the warnings and continued with their plans.
Hadi Sharqawi is a 24-year-old Lebanese student studying in Italy. After two days of canceled flights, he arrived in Beirut on Tuesday. He plans to spend his usual month and a half with his family during the summer. Sharqawi comes from Kharayeb, a city in southern Lebanon. It is far from the border, but the conflict still affects the area. “The threats do not influence our decision to come to Lebanon,” Sharqawi said. “Even if there are threats, we will continue to come.”
Mohammad Mokhaled, a 71-year-old from the southern city of Jarjouh, agreed with Sharqawi. He was at the airport waiting for his daughter. “We are not afraid of the situation because we are used to it,” he said. “We frequently hear airstrikes and sonic booms, and it does not affect us.”
Lebanon is preparing for possible Israeli retaliation. This follows a missile strike that hit a soccer field in Majdal Shams, a city in the Israeli-annexed Syrian Golan. The attack killed 12 children and teenagers. Israel accused Hezbollah of launching the attack, but Hezbollah denied it. Even before this deadly incident, fears of a full-scale conflict were growing. Surprisingly, these tensions have not greatly affected the summer tourist season. Thousands of Lebanese people living abroad still return to visit their families and enjoy the country’s lively social life.
The exchanges of nearly lethal attacks between Israel and Hezbollah started with the war in Gaza on October 7. This followed a surprise attack by Hamas in southern Israel. Despite the conflict, Beirut’s airport reported 406,396 passengers arriving in June. This is slightly less than the 427,854 arrivals in the same period last year. Departures from the country increased, with 300,362 people leaving in June compared to 280,366 the previous year. This is a 7% rise.
Amal Ahmadieh, a 23-year-old who works in a restaurant in Qatar, was among those leaving on Tuesday. She spent her vacation in Lebanon and was not worried about security concerns that had caused others to change their plans. “Honestly, everyone was telling me that the situation was not good, but I wanted to come to see my friends and family,” Ahmadieh said. “Whatever happens, in the end, this is my country.”
The indifference and determination of Lebanese expatriates and tourists highlight a larger pattern. Despite threats and the potential for escalated conflict, many stay firm in their plans to visit and support their homeland. This resilience shows their strong connection to Lebanon and the country’s lasting appeal, even in difficult times.
As Lebanon faces these challenging times, the spirit of its people stands out. It is a powerful reminder of the nation’s strength and the deep bonds that tie its citizens to their homeland, no matter what challenges they face.
