Citizens remain defiant

Beirut: Mixed emotions of fear, defiance and joy spread among Lebanese citizens following Hezbollah's abduction of two Israeli soldiers on Wednesday.

Hezbollah supporters were seen posting friendly-checkpoints in Beirut and different parts of the country and distributing sweets to express their happiness for what some described as "the heroic and laudable resistance against Israel, the military superpower in the Middle East".

Jihad Aashour, from Baalbak, said: "Abducting soldiers has proven to be the most successful weapon against Israel. Following the triumphant prisoners' exchange in 2004, experience taught has us that the soldiers' capture on Wednesday will have a good outcome. However, we expect Israel air raids against Lebanese citizens and the infrastructure but we have to patient."

Others feared that tension between Hezbollah and Israel will hit economy hard. Nimr Fares, a Christian from Mount Lebanon, said: "I am really upset with what happened in the past two days. We were expecting a promising summer season. Eventually, things will worsen and have a negative impact on tourism and economy."

Khairy Eddine, a Jordanian on a vacation, said: "You cannot lead a war ... against Israel using a peaceful country like Lebanon."

Air traffic came to a halt early on Thursday after runways at Beirut International Airport were hit during an air raid.

Some Lebanese citizens living abroad insisted on flying to Damascus or Amman and then reach Beirut on road. "I am searching for a flight to Syria from where I will take a cab to Lebanon," said 26-year-old Abed Rahman, who works in Saudi Arabia.
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Rola and Rawan, Lebanese sisters working in Dubai, said they will fly to Amman and "take a taxi to Beirut".