The recent influx of arrivals at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport has brought a mix of excitement and tension as Lebanese expatriates and tourists travel to celebrate the Eid Al-Adha holiday. Despite warnings from European embassies about the security situation in Lebanon, many expatriates and visitors, particularly from Iraq and Egypt, have chosen to ignore the risks and enjoy the festivities.
However, the holiday season is not without its challenges. On the eve of Eid Al-Adha, there was a noticeable increase in meat prices and a shortage of sacrificial animals in the Lebanese market. Majed Eid, secretary of the Syndicate of Butchers, Importers, and Traders of Live Livestock, attributed this to a decrease in imports of sacrificial animals from abroad this year.
The security situation in the Tyre area has also impacted commercial activities as Eid approaches. Ghazwan Halawani, Secretary of the Tyre Traders Association, noted that there has been no significant improvement in sales or market visitors due to anxiety over military operations on the border and Israeli attacks on civilians.
Despite the challenges, thousands of families from the southern region are heading back to their villages near the border to celebrate Eid Al-Adha. Issa, a butcher, expressed his determination to spend the holiday with his family despite sporadic shelling in his area in recent months, stating, “Nothing will happen to us except what God has destined for us.”
For many displaced southerners, Eid Al-Adha presents significant challenges. Nearly 100,000 people have been forced to leave their villages due to Israeli attacks. Nabatieh Governor Hwaida Turk highlighted the destruction caused by systematic shelling and fires in 65 towns in Nabatieh Governorate, with some towns almost completely destroyed.
While residents of front-line towns like Marjayoun and Hasbaya have not returned for Eid, villages and towns further away are crowded with displaced people alongside their original inhabitants. Despite the difficult economic conditions, people in the southern region are trying to celebrate Eid with hope.
The holiday season has also seen an escalation in tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. Retaliatory attacks from both sides have intensified following an Israeli airstrike that killed a senior Hezbollah commander. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack on an Israeli base using suicide drones, while Israel reported retaliatory strikes on Hezbollah targets.
The conflict has resulted in casualties on both sides, with reports of drone strikes, missile attacks, and artillery shelling causing fires in forested areas. The ongoing hostilities have added a layer of complexity to the already challenging holiday season for residents of southern Lebanon.
As Lebanese expatriates and tourists flock to Beirut to celebrate Eid Al-Adha, they are met with a mix of festivities and tensions. Despite the challenges posed by security concerns and escalating conflicts in the region, many are determined to make the most of the holiday season and celebrate with hope for peace and prosperity in the future.