Bombs go off in Lebanon's ancient olive groves as work goes on

As Israel's air an ground offensive against Hezbollah goes on in southern Lebanon, the work goes on for pickers and farmers on ancient olive groves.

AABRA, Lebanon — Mayada El Sayed, duct tape wrapped around her fingers to prevent bruising, efficiently strips ripe olives from a tree, seemingly undeterred by the ever-present threat of bombs.

El Sayed, 45, said she was scared by the regular strikes — one of which was less than half a mile from Bustan El Zeitoun grove where she was working, a few miles inland from Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast and a 45-minute drive south of the capital, Beirut  — as Israel pushes into the neighboring country to fight the Hezbollah militant group.

The mother of three said she worried about something happening to her children at their home in the town of Haret Saida, the site of multiple Israeli airstrikes on homes and businesses. She said she feared she wouldn’t be able to get home to them.

Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel the day after Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 7, 2023. Lebanese health officials say more than 3,600 people have been killed in the country since fighting began last year. The United Nations’ refugee agency says 1.3 million people have been internally displaced.

Hezbollah attacks have killed about 100 civilians and soldiers in northern Israel, the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and southern Lebanon over the last year, according to Israel, and 60,000 civilians have been evacuated from the north. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to pursue military action against Hezbollah until those displaced Israeli families can safely return home.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hezbollah-conflict-lebanon-ancient-olive-groves-rcna180758

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