BEIRUT: Residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, are fleeing the area following an Israeli airstrike that killed a senior Hezbollah commander last week. The escalation of violence and fears of an impending full-scale war have led to a surge in demand for housing outside the densely populated Dahiyeh district, driving up rental prices significantly.
Batoul, a 29-year-old journalist who declined to provide her last name due to the sensitivity of the situation, has been struggling to find affordable housing for her family. “We are with the resistance (Hezbollah) to death,” she said, “but it’s normal to be scared… and look for a safe haven.”
The recent Israeli strike on Dahiyeh took place before the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, an act blamed on Israel. Hezbollah has been engaged in daily clashes with Israeli forces in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel has launched a relentless bombardment campaign since October 7.
Many residents in Dahiyeh, a historic Hezbollah stronghold, have sought refuge in safer areas outside Beirut. However, the scramble for housing has led to steep increases in rental prices. Batoul reported that landlords are charging “exorbitant prices” for apartments in areas previously considered affordable. She noted a case where a landlord canceled a rental agreement after she had agreed to pay six months’ rent in advance.
A 55-year-old teacher and Hezbollah supporter, who also requested anonymity, described her experience finding a new home about 15 kilometers outside Beirut. She found an apartment priced at $1,500 a month, a steep increase from its usual rate of around $500. “They know we have no choice. When there is a war, people will pay any amount of money to be safe,” she said, adding that many people would remain in Dahiyeh because they cannot afford the inflated rents.
Riyad Bou Fakhreddine, a broker in the Mount Lebanon area near Beirut, noted that apartments were being rented out within hours of being listed. While some landlords have sought to exploit the crisis by raising rents, Bou Fakhreddine has refused to participate in price gouging. “I tell them I’m not a crisis profiteer. I don’t want to take advantage of people’s fears,” he said.
