Justin Salhani

They are systemically disenfranchised in Lebanon, many forced to live in camps, and now they’ve once again faced a generational indignity from Israel.

Today the Israelis ordered the evacuation of the southern suburbs of Beirut. This included a couple Palestinian refugee camps. People who were displaced during the Nakba or in 67, settled in Beirut and now their grand/great grandchildren are once again displaced.

Israel's Digital Occupation — The Dial Lebanon has become a laboratory for a new age of warfare.

“The drones that hover over the skies of Lebanon…collect large swathes of data — Wi-Fi, IP addresses, phone signals — which are then organized by AI…in what some scholars and activists say amounts to a “digital occupation.” Fascinating by @justinsalhani.bsky.social

www.thedial.world/articles/new...

Feels a bit late now that all of the South and southern suburbs have been ordered to evacuate. As well as 3 major towns in Bekaa.

But I’ll take all the help we can get. I don’t expect Macron to come thru but if he can put this into action, I will take it

Israel's Digital Occupation — The Dial Lebanon has become a laboratory for a new age of warfare.

www.thedial.world/articles/new... - new from the always-excellent @justinsalhani.bsky.social

This piece starts with a vignette about an Israeli drone flying around broadcasting the message that “The architect Tarek Mazraani continues his conspiracies. Chase him. Drive him out so security returns and reconstruction begins" and then somehow manages to get MORE dystopian...

Very dystopian timing. I’ve been working on this since November.

Thanks @thedialmag.bsky.social

Once upon a time in Dahiyeh: Israel’s destruction of Lebanon’s communities Israeli attacks on Dahiyeh this time clearly aim to tear apart the communities living there, residents and experts say.

Smotrich just said Dahiyeh will soon look like Khan Younis.

I wrote about Dahiyeh in 2024 and Israel’s domicide/urbicide

www.aljazeera.com/amp/features...

At this point, I think we have to acknowledge that "the international community" is a purely notional entity.

Israeli army just ordered all of Dahiyeh residents to evacuate. Yesterday the entire south, now all of Dahiyeh (Beirut's southern suburbs).

Still have yet to see comments on proportionality from the international community. Macron asked Israel not to launch ground invasion but seems too late

During 2024’s Israeli intensification they said if you wanted a commercial flight out you had to promise to pay the government back for the ticket

Honestly the Americans have been useless at this for decades. My wife called the US embassy in Beirut once when I was stuck in a battle (by chance) and they said ‘well what is he doing there in the first place, we told citizens not to come here’
Of course, that was also b4 launching a major war

I asked someone with a registered NGO and they said they weren't having these issues. This particular kitchen was receiving individual donations to a particular person, so that might be part of it. It's also not an uncommon issue in this part of the world that transfers get flagged.

I’m so sorry, Lina

My grandmother’s home, the family home, the home I spent nearly every Sunday in for over 3 decades, the home I lived in as a teenager, that my grandparents bought in 1965 when Ghobeiri still had orchards, the house my aunt inherited & in which my cousins grew up, is gone.
No one was home, thank god

big typo here.

Israel ordered residents leave all villages/towns/cities south of the Litani.

i mistyped. their residents were ordered to leave

Israel has ordered all villages/towns/cities south of the Litani River (which runs across south Lebanon).

This means hundreds of thousands of people.

I spoke to someone running an aid kitchen in Beirut. He told me way less donations are coming in this time. Also Western Union and Whish money transferring services have blocked them from receiving money transfers.

War planes have been flying overhead the last few minutes. Israel now gave evacuation orders to more locations in Dahiyeh.

Here or abroad?

Most of my friends outside have no clue what is happening. When I tell them they ask me if I can leave, as though my life is not here

Yes, we know and have known there are different rules and standards when it comes to our humanity. No one can continue to pretend we are seen equally or that we have the same rights to life, dignity, safety, etc.

Most of the world is focused on Iran or the GCC. Haven’t heard much from international actors comment on Israel reclosing entry into Gaza or the disproportional response Israel is committing on Lebanon through mass displacement and constant attacks

Drones have been incessantly buzzing throughout the night and into morning.

Numerous attacks across the country. Reports of at least 10 dead in an attack on Baalbek.

Many are angry/questioning Hezbollah’s decision to attack Israel again. It’s clear Israel was waiting for this

According to @nytimes.com, Israel “claims” parts of other countries — it doesn’t invade and occupy them

The Artistic Journey:

2021: celebrated as I published one of the best books of my career.

2025: watched Anthropic steal it, with millions of others, to train its model, without compensation.

2026: watched Anthropic sell that model, an AI killing machine, to the US government.

Human progress!

so...invade?

الجيش اللبناني يُخلي مواقعه الحدودية من 7 مواقع الجيش اللبناني قام بإخلاء مواقعه الحدودية في بلدات عيتا الشعب والقوزح ودبل ورامية وعين إبل ورميش باتجاه مركز الجيش في بلدة عيتيت. فيما ذكرت الإذاعة الإسرائيلية

"Lebanese army evacuated its border positions in the towns of Aita al-Shaab, Qouzah, Dibil, Ramiya, Ain Ebel, and Rmeish, moving them towards the army's base in the town of Aytit.
Israeli state radio reported that Israeli ground forces had entered southern Lebanon."

www.almodon.com/politics/202...

Israel intensifies war on Lebanon after Hezbollah attack Israel's response to Hezbollah attack kills at least 31 people and leads to mass displacement in Lebanon.

My reporting from today.

www.aljazeera.com/features/202...

“God grant us patience to deal with the state and Hezbollah,” he said, his fatigue mixing with growing frustration at the indignity of being left on the street.

“My brother, we have kids, we’re on the streets. But where are they? Have them come see us, we’re on the sidewalk.”