The beating of war drums and preparations, alerts, and warnings of an imminent retaliatory response from both Iran and Hezbollah against Israel have reached a peak in recent hours. Estimates suggest that this response could begin in the coming hours, amidst an unprecedented level of regional danger that has surpassed the situation of April, when Israel and Iran exchanged long-range strikes without escalating to direct war.
Lebanon appears to be at the center of growing fears, which intensified strongly yesterday afternoon as embassies of major countries raced to renew and update their advisories, urging their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. This urgency signals that the zero hour for a response—and the potential consequences of that response—has become a matter of just hours.
According to what "An-Nahar" has learned, Lebanese officials have begun acting as if they expect a response against Israel this weekend, possibly in the early hours of dawn or at any moment afterward. Consequently, preparations have intensified across various sectors, including supplies, health, and services, in anticipation of the worst-case war scenarios that could arise from the response and retaliations.
All these scenarios are being factored into safety measures at Rafic Hariri International Airport, noting that most Arab and international airlines have suspended flights to Israel and Lebanon in the past two days, according to "An-Nahar."
