Members of Winnipeg's Lebanese community worry as fighting between Israel, Hezbollah escalates
CBC
Members of Winnipeg's Lebanese community say they're concerned for family members overseas as thousands flee and fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalates.
Iranian-backed Hezbollah, the strongest armed force in Lebanon, began firing rockets into Israel almost immediately after Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel, saying it was a show of support for the Palestinians. Since then, it and the Israeli military have traded fire almost daily, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes on both sides of the border.
Winnipegger Abdullah Aboumrad, who owns Baraka Pita Bakery, said his family living in Lebannon can hear everything.
"They're waking up in the night, just bombarded with explosions, and all the kids are waking up scared, crying," he said.
"Then you move further to those places and you see the destruction," he said.
Israel dramatically intensified its airstrikes in Lebanon this week, saying it's determined to put an end to more than 11 months of Hezbollah fire into its territory.
The escalated campaign has killed more than 720 people in Lebanon, including dozens of women and children, according to statistics from Lebanon's Health Ministry.
George Chamaa, who owns Beaurivage on Corydon avenue, was born in Lebanon before moving to Winnipeg 40 years ago.
He told CBC News his sister lives in a small Lebanese town near the recent airstrikes.
"It's two kilometres, the devastation was a big bomb just dropped on them," he said. "Levelled everything in that area within like 200 metres."
Chamaa said he believes Hezbollah has destroyed Lebanon and ruined democracy in the region.
He wasn't surprised to see Israel attacking his homeland, but he doesn't want to see any more lives lost.
"I'm looking for a peaceful ending, however that happens," he said. "Because buildings you can rebuild, but people you cannot rebuild if they die."
On Friday, the Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut in a series of massive explosions that levelled multiple high-rise apartment buildings.
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