Israel's airstrike warnings terrify Lebanese civilians as war intensifies

As the war between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies, Lebanese civilians are increasingly paying the price and this dangerous reality often becomes clear in the middle of the night: That's when the Israeli military typically warns people to evacuate buildings or neighbourhoods to avoid airstrikes.

Moein Shreif was recently awakened at 3 a.m. by a neighbor calling to alert him that Israel planned to strike a nearby building in his middle-class suburb south of Beirut where Hezbollah has a strong presence.

Shreif, his wife and their three children quickly fled their multi-story apartment building and drove away. Within minutes, explosions rang out, he said later that day upon returning to see the smoldering ruins of his building and the one next door.

I didn't even have time to dress properly, as you can see, said Shreif, a well-known Lebanese folk and pop singer who was still wearing his pajamas from the night before. I didn't take anything out of the house.

Israel and Hezbollah have