Lokman Slim – intellectual, writer and Hezbollah critic – eased his frame into the front of the black Toyota hire car and pointed it in the direction of home.

Hezbollah no dey officially govern Lebanon but dem don establish diasef as a powerful force for dia. Dem dey actually run di kontri?

Before Israel’s recent escalation, Hezbollah and Israel had been locked in a tit-for-tat exchange of fire for almost a year. The group began firing rockets at Israeli positions on Oct. 8, 2023 in solidarity with Gaza.

Israel has been expanding its actions in Lebanon. On Saturday, it made its first strike in the northern city of Tripoli, a Lebanese security official said, and Israeli troops launched raids in the south.

Israel expanded its bombardment in Lebanon, hitting Beirut’s southern suburbs with 12 airstrikes and striking a Palestinian refugee camp deep in northern Lebanon for the first time.

Israel’s latest attack on Lebanon’s capital city of Beirut has cut off a key crossing with Syria, as tens of thousands of people look to escape the growing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.