Hundreds of Americans and other foreign nationals are fleeing Israeli air strikes that pummelled Lebanon for a ninth day on Thursday. The following are comments by evacuees:
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Hundreds of Americans and other foreign nationals are fleeing Israeli air strikes that pummelled Lebanon for a ninth day on Thursday. The following are comments by evacuees:
"It was total chaos. Everyone was trying to shove their way to the checkpoint. Women were screaming that they had babies and old people looked like they were on the verge of collapse."
Hisam Ajouz, 18, from Michigan, on conditions as Americans waited for marines to help them to US ship
"What Israel is doing is terrible. If you want to go after Hizbollah, then beat them to the ground, please. But don't kill innocent people. It's a tragedy women and children are dying."
Ahmed Temsah, 55, from Chicago, aboard the USS Nashville
"They're blowing up a beautiful country and hurting wonderful people. It's not right."
Billy Broeckelmann, 44, Texas, aboard the USS Nashville
"I went there for a holiday and everything got crazy. I left my parents. I'm worried about them. The situation is very dangerous. What I've seen was horrible, I can't describe how horrible it was."
Hadi Said, 37, Lebanesebelgian evacuated to Cyprus
"It's very bad there, unsafe and uncertain. I was here for the war before but this week has been very different, this time danger is everywhere and nowhere is safe."
Mireille Ayoub, 47, from Los Angeles, on deck of a US landing craft off Beirut
"It's horrible... I think they should have negotiated it, not just go and destroy a whole city."
Ali Fowaz, 16, from Florida, evacuated to Cyprus.
"I don't think the Israeli people would condone the actions of their government if they get to see what's going on in Lebanon."
Zar Yassine, 38, from Florida, evacuated to Cyprus
"For the past 15 years I've come here for a month every year. I've never imagined that I'd leave like this. I'm going but leaving my heart in my country and my village."
Mustapha Safieddine, 48, Frenchman waiting to be evacuated from Tyre.
"I'm really angry. It's not fair. Israel's attacks seem unbalanced. Lebanon does not have the same strength and its people don't want a war. I was scared out of my mind and so were my kids."
Robin Andrea, 42, from Maryland, aboard the USS Nashville
"The embassy didn't answer the phone for a week. At the checkpoints, it was like a Metallica concert gone terribly wrong. It was a mob scene."
US television chef Anthony Bourdain, aboard the USS Nashville.
"There is already panic in Lebanon because of the lack of electricity, finding food and water has become an issue."
Gervork Keombedjian, 37, ethnic Armenian now in Armenia
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