Region | Lebanon
Frantic stocking-up to face looming crisis
The latest escalation in violence is considered by many to be the most serious since Israel ended its occupation of South Lebanon in 2000.
- By Christian Henderson, Correspondent
- Published: 23:33 May 3, 2009
Beirut: The latest escalation in violence is considered by many to be the most serious since Israel ended its occupation of South Lebanon in 2000.
The attack on Beirut airport raised fears that the situation could worsen.
Queues formed at petrol stations in the capital and supermarkets were busy as people stocked up on water and food.
Many Lebanese were unhappy with Hezbollah and said its operations in the south would have negative consequences on the country.
But as clashes between Israel and Hezbollah looked set to continue, many in Lebanon were apprehensive about what might happen next.
Timur Goksel, who was UN spokesman in southern Lebanon for 20 years and is now an academic at the American University of Beirut, said that unless both sides backed down, the situation could become very serious.
"I think this has to end otherwise there is going to be a serious problem in the Middle East. Hezbollah cannot match the firepower of Israel but Hezbollah can inflict pain on Israel," said Goksel.
Christian Henderson, a journalist based in Beirut
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