She fled Israeli bombing four times. It still found her

Rihab Faour is a mother who has faced unimaginable challenges as she fled from the dangers of war in Lebanon. Living in Beirut, she has had to escape from her home four times due to the ongoing conflict and bombings. Her ordeal began in October 2023 when Hamas launched an attack on Israel. This led to Hezbollah, a Lebanese political and militant group, firing rockets into Israel, prompting Israel to retaliate with airstrikes on southern Lebanon. The situation became dire for Rihab, her husband Saeed, and their two daughters, Tia and Naya, as the bombs fell alarmingly close to their village. In a desperate attempt to protect their family, they sought refuge at Rihab's parents' house in Dahieh, a suburb of Beirut. Initially, life in Dahieh seemed to return to some semblance of normalcy, but the girls missed their friends, their toys, and the comfort of their own beds. Most importantly, they longed to return to school, which had been replaced by online learning due to the war. Rihab was excited to enroll them in a new school in Beirut and even took them shopping for new uniforms. However, just before the school year began, the situation worsened as Israel expanded its bombing campaign to include parts of Beirut, particularly Dahieh. The Israeli military targeted senior Hezbollah figures in the area, using powerful bombs that could destroy entire buildings. Fearing for their safety, the Faour family packed their belongings once again and moved to a rented house in Jnah, another neighborhood in Beirut. After enduring another airstrike in Jnah, they sought refuge at Saeed's parents' house in Barbour, where they lived with 17 other family members. Despite the cramped conditions, Tia and Naya found joy in being surrounded by their cousins. However, when Rihab's father found a rental apartment in the Basta neighborhood, the girls were reluctant to leave their cousins behind. Rihab promised them a special dinner if they agreed to move, and they stopped to buy delicious food on the way to their new home. Upon arriving at the Basta apartment, the family felt a sense of relief as they finally had their own space. But their relief was short-lived. Just half an hour after settling in, a bomb struck their building, killing Saeed and the girls instantly. Rihab, who was severely injured, woke up in a hospital, confused and in pain. Her family searched for her husband and daughters, only to learn that they had perished in the attack. Rihab underwent multiple surgeries to treat her injuries, but the emotional pain of losing her family weighed heavily on her. She remembered the joy her daughters brought into her life and how they loved to play and watch videos together. As she began to heal, Rihab contemplated returning to her studies, hoping to find a way to fill the void left by her family's absence. The temporary grave where her loved ones were buried became a painful reminder of her loss, especially as more bombings occurred nearby. Rihab's home in their village was destroyed, and she could not return due to her injuries. Even with a ceasefire in place, the memories of her family and the challenges she faced remained etched in her heart.