Schools in Dahie Fear return to war after new Israeli strikes

It was a typical lunch on Friday in the southern suburb of Beirut. Then, a warning published in Arabic by X by a spokesman for Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) caused panic and chaos in the densely populated area known as Dahieh.

“An emergency warning about those in the Southern Suburb of Beirut,” it said. The post included a map of a residential area marking a red and two schools nearby. IDF identifies the building as a Hezbollah facility and ordered the immediate evacuation of schools.

An air stroke was inevitable.

Scenes of pure panic followed. The parents rushed to the endangered area to gather their children from the schools as the residents fled in the opposite direction, visibly shaken and fear.

“It was a total chaos,” Ahmad Alama recalls, director of St. Georges’s School, one of those underlined on the map. “We tried to master the situation as much as we could, but it was crazy.”

The area was soon cleared and the Israeli forces destroyed the marked building, which they believe is a warehouse storing the drones of Hezbollah.

The strike, held two weeks ago, was the first Dakhier – an area with a strong presence of Hezbollah – since the end of the fire, the cessation of the war between Israel and the Hezbollah, came into force last November.

Hours came after the launch of two missiles from South Lebanon to North Israel. Israel said it had captured one rocket while the other was not briefly from the border.

Hezbollah, supported by Iran, a military and political group, denied participation. Israel described the missile fire as a “breach” of ceasefire, while the service of Lebanon President Joseph Aung condemned Israeli strike as a “violation of the agreement”.

“We thought the war was over with the end of fire,” says G -n Alama, “But unfortunately we still live it every day.”

Despite the cessation of fire, Israel continues almost daily to people and goals that they say they are related to Hezbollah, saying that it works to stop Hezbollah from incarnate. The strikes have occurred mainly in southern Lebanon, but the latest attacks in Dakhie have caused a special concern.

On April 1, A second Israeli hit the area – This time without warning – killing a Hezbollah commander and three other people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Alama has been heading St. Georges School for 30 years. It serves about 1000 children of all ages, boys and girls. Although religion is part of the curriculum for older students, it describes the school as secular.

It is also well known in the community for its association with the Lebanese pop star and the judge of the talents show, the Ragheb Alama-Brother of Ahmad Alama and the owner of the school.

The recently destroyed building lies just meters from the school. This is not the only close scene of devastation. Another building, opposite one of St. Georges’s gates, remains a massive pile of rubble – removed from Israeli air strikes before the fire is terminated.

During the war, schools were closed. They did not have to deal with situations like the one they encountered. Now open again, they are arranged for the possibility of more bombing.

The school has developed evacuation plans, determining the emergency points for meetings in the basement and routes that students and employees should follow in case of danger.

There are also new communication plans with parents to prevent the strike of the strike from last month. Children are already routinely reminiscent of these procedures, with regular evacuation training.

Students, employees and parents are injured by the incident, says G -n Alama.

Initially, the school was considering reducing extracurricular activities to compensate for the lost training, but they changed their minds.

“We decided something else,” says G -n Alama. “Students do not have to pay the price for something they are not responsible for. In fact, we eventually increased these activities – these children must put some of the pressure on them.”

Nearly five months after the fire is terminated, the return of Israeli air strikes to Beirut has increased fears from returning to the overall war.

The termination of fire was to end more than 13 months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began when Hezbollah began attacks on Israeli military positions on the day after Hamas’ attacks against South Israel on October 7, 2023, saying he was acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.

The conflict escalated in September 2024 when Israel launches a devastating air campaign Through Lebanon and invaded the southern part of the country.

Dakhie, empty during the war, comes to life again. The shops opened again, the hookah smokers are back in crowded cafes, and the suburbs look as busy as before, with their constantly paralyzing traffic.

But against the background of these signs of normality, the scenes of destruction serve as a reminder of the stabbing of this area, with only months ago.

About 346 buildings in the area were destroyed and others were 145, partially damaged by Israeli air strikes, according to a municipal employee. Israel said it was aimed at Hezbollah’s facilities and caching weapons.

In many neighborhoods, the ruins are still cleared. Bulldozers and Jackhammers roar, pierced in piles of debris, is almost constant.

Some of the debris mounds have flags of Hezbollah planted on top of them, while the big and small portraits of Hassan Naralla, the former Hezbollah leader killed by Israel during the war, arrange the roads.

However, against the background of the usual signs of challenge, many now express deep concern, not always expressed – at least in front of the cameras – by the residents of Dahie.

“Destruction is horrifying. I see the destroyed buildings and crying,” says Sausan Hariri, head teacher of Burj High School, also in Dakhie.

The school, which also sits against a flattened building, causes damage from nearby blows.

“This is depressing. Walking on the street, driving your car – everything is just depressing.”

D -Ja Hariri lived on the top floor of the school building with her husband and daughter, but their home was destroyed. Now they hire an apartment nearby.

Before the war, Burj high school had about 600 students. Now he has only 100.

Many parents are reluctant to send their children back against the background of the scenes of destruction and constant buzzing of machines. Others were concerned about health risks, with thick dust still filling the air.

Following the termination of the fire, the owners of the private school made some major repairs on their own account.

Hezbollah, which is prohibited as a terrorist organization in many countries, but in Lebanon is political and social movement, as well as as paramilitary forces, gave those who have lost their homes $ 12,000 for one annual rent and offered to cover the cost of repairing apartments. However, schools and other institutions have not received any assistance.

The Lebanese government has promised to set up a reconstruction fund that will cost $ 11 billion across the country. But it is believed that international donors are pushing for the disarmament of Hezbollah and political reform – conditions that seem distant perspective.

Although the ruins are expected to end by the end of the year, few expect a large -scale recovery to follow soon.