Thousands of refugees fleeing southern Lebanon fill Beirut schools

Thousands of refugees fleeing sustained Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon over the past two days have sought shelter in schools across Beirut.

Many displaced individuals appear deeply distressed, with some devastated after losing loved ones in the attacks.

"I cannot believe what is happening to us," said Zeinab who is from an area near the southern port city of Tyre.

Several refugees reported fleeing with only the clothes on their backs, without money or identification papers.

"My main concern was to get my family out to a safe place," Mohammed from the village of Srifa told dpa.

On Wednesday, the streets of Beirut appeared largely deserted as Israel intensified its strikes deep into Lebanon, targeting areas in Christian-populated regions north of the capital.

While Israel says that its strikes are aimed at the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah movement, Lebanese officials have reported numerous civilian casualties.

Clad in black and tearful, Haji Um Mohammed, expressed her devastation over the loss of her sister's family in a strike near Tyre.

Most residents of southern villages are known to support Hezbollah. Some expressed defiance when asked about the ongoing Israeli aerial campaign.

"Israel is the aggressor. We hope the resistance will teach them a good lesson," a man clad in black said, angered by the loss of his home.

"Even if we lose our homes, even if now we are displaced we still have dignity," he added.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Syrian refugees who fled their country during the 2011 war there are taking refuge in Sarafand near Tyre where they are sitting in open areas and gardens.

"We fled our country a few years back. I am from Homos (in central Syria). Look now we are on the streets. We don't know where to go," Mohammed, a Syrian refugee and a father of six told dpa.

Lebanon is currently home to an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees.