BBCA British woman who fled Lebanon after the war between Israel and Hezbollah intensified has said she feels “terrible and guilty” for leaving.
“I’m still in denial,” Alaa Ghalayini told the BBC. “I can’t sleep. I can still hear the bombs in my head.”
The 28-year-old is almost two months pregnant with her first child. She looked exhausted as she arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport on a Middle East Airlines flight with two large suitcases on Sunday morning.
He said he left his wife – along with the life he loved.
Available war between Israel and Hezbollah across the Lebanese border since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. The Iran-backed militia, which is based in Lebanon, has said it will continue until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza.
In recent weeks, Israel has struck what it says are Hezbollah strongholds in various parts of Lebanon, including the capital, Beirut.
On Saturday, an Israeli strike in south Beirut killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, with Israel saying 20 others were senior members of the group. they were killed in the attack.
Ms Ghalayini moved to Beirut from north London when she got married in August last year.
She said she did not know when she would see her husband again, or if she would be able to return to Lebanon before the baby was born.
Ms Ghalayini said the only commercial airline she could find leaving Beirut was Middle East Airlines – and she could only get a seat because her husband was a pilot for the company.
“I feel terrible and guilty that I could have left,” she said.
“I don’t want to leave my wife. My heart is with her.”
He said Beirut Airport, where he departed, was “chaotic” and “hit by people”, adding that the plane had no empty seats.
“(The plane) is obviously emotional — everyone has a story.
“Everyone on the plane felt calm as soon as the plane left Lebanese airspace. That’s because the area very close to the airport was bombed.”
GrantedMrs. Ghalayini said, before she left, the situation in the country was “unbearable”.
“I saw buildings being bombed, buildings collapsing, huge fires. Not just one bomb, but 20 explosions, one after the other,” he added.
“We screamed, hid in the bathroom. I lived on the 23rd floor, so I saw my city burning. You feel helpless.
“You smell the flesh, you see people still stuck in the rubble.
“Born and raised in London, I’ve never experienced anything like this.
“Nobody should go through what we’ve gone through.”
Nadine, another Briton, cried as she told the BBC: “We can’t sleep, we’re so worried about our family and friends and we can’t even find a flight for him to come here.”
He went from his home in London to Heathrow to meet the two girls who had landed from Beirut that morning.
Lea, 17 and Yasmina, 15, are British citizens but have been living in Beirut with their grandparents until now.
The family did not want their last name used.
As Israeli airstrikes escalated in the country, the family decided to let the girls out. He had left most of his belongings behind, as well as his friends and school.
Lea said, “Everything was unexpected. Just got the ticket, two days later we were at the airport.
“It’s scary and sad not knowing when you’re going back to your country, not knowing what’s going to happen to your family and friends there.”
Lea added: “I don’t want to have another sleepless night. I hope I feel better here and forget about the trauma.”
Nadine said she was relieved to know the girls had arrived safely, but was afraid of what was left behind.
“Sister, the children are traumatized. They see the bombs from the balcony, from the streets.”
The family said the girl’s grandfather planned to leave Beirut on Monday to find a safe place.
BBC News understands there are between 4,000 and 6,000 British nationals including dependents in Lebanon.
The Foreign Office told British citizens in Lebanon to leave immediately on Saturday because of the escalating violence.
“We encourage you to book available flights, even if they are not direct routes,” he said in official advice.
In a post on Xsaid it was used “to increase capacity and secure seats for British citizens to leave”.
British citizens in Lebanon are advised to register their presence to receive the latest information.
Alaa Ghalayini
