As clashes between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah continue, sonic booms have become a regular occurrence in many parts of Lebanon: Israeli fighter jets break the sound barrier over southern Lebanon, Beirut and the surrounding area.
The sound of the jets resembles that of an explosion and is considered part of Israel’s psychological warfare against the Lebanese population.
Since Israel assassinated a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the sonic booms have become more intense, with locals regularly texting each other and comparing the intensity of the sounds whenever they occur.
However, as people have become accustomed to the noise of sonic booms, the jets that are supposed to scare them are taken less seriously.
A new website called jidarsot.com was recently created where people from across Lebanon can leave a short report about the sonic booms they have experienced.”Jidar sot“” means sound barrier in Arabic.
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“Almost a 5/10 just because the pressure hurt my ears,” wrote one user from the southern province of Nabatieh.
“It’s like they’re not even trying anymore. They’ve lost the passion,” said another user from Beirut about a relatively faint sonic boom he heard on Monday.
What was once a great source of fear has become an opportunity for many to tell jokes and ridicule Israel’s attempts to spread fear.
“My husband’s farts are louder than today’s sonic boom,” read one reviewer who gave the film a 1/10.
Other users have used the site to send messages to their lovers.
“You hear the sonic boom but not my voice message? Reply to me on WhatsApp,” wrote one person from Beirut.
“Aline, unblock me, I know you’re reading this,” said another, alluding to the popularity of the site, which is visited by Lebanese from across the country to share a laugh.
The website comes after a month of heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israel blamed Hezbollah for a rocket attack that killed 12 teenagers in the occupied Golan Heights in late July, but the Lebanese group denied responsibility.
Israel then assassinated Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander, in an attack south of Beirut, and Hezbollah vowed retaliation.
On Sunday, the two came close to breaking point when Israel launched a series of attacks on Lebanon overnight before Hezbollah fired hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel in what it called the “first phase” of retaliation.
Tensions appear to have returned to pre-attack levels in Beirut, with limited clashes and occasional breaches of the sound barrier by Israel.
Although a major war has been averted for the time being, the future is uncertain without the signing of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Only through this can Hezbollah end its conflicts with Israel, she says.
Amidst the uncertainty, people in Lebanon are finding comfort and humor by visiting the Sonic Boom website.
A critic from the South gave the sound 9/10, but said the sonic boom “needs some spice.”
