Beirut airport empty as rubble lines roads of Lebanese capital after Israeli attacks

Relentless Israeli airstrikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut have left the city in a state of shock and emptiness, with few flights arriving and even fewer people in sight on the streets, as shown in a vlog by China Global Television Network (CGTN) correspondent Yasser Hakim.

Hakim documented the scenes he witnessed upon his arrival in Beirut after traveling from the Egyptian capital Cairo via a flight operated by the Lebanese state-carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA).

He noted this was one of the only remaining options still in operation between the two cities after Egypt Air suspended most of its flights amid the current crisis, but said there were still only a small number of passengers waiting to board the plane.

Upon arriving in the Lebanese capital, the reporter observed how the once-bustling airport was now eerily quiet.

"I've arrived at Beirut airport now and going to the luggage claim. From this side it's very, very empty," said Hakim.

On his journey towards the city center, Hakim's vehicle passed by the site of some of the heaviest airstrikes, where he encountered scenes of destruction as rubble lay strewn by the roadside.

"This is the outskirts of the southern district, which is the stronghold for Hezbollah, which has been targeted since the beginning of the Israeli onslaught on Lebanon and on Beirut in particular. It's on the way to the airport. So [when] you just get out of the airport, or you arrive at the airport, it's on your way, the highway, and that's why the airport has been closed a few times before and could be closed anytime soon. And you can see the damages here. The houses, they have all been hit by air raids and that's next to the airport," he said while driving through the city suburbs.

After reaching a vantage point high over the capital, he described Beirut as a "beautiful city that has been sadly marred by the Israeli aggression."

At least 22 people have been killed and 117 injured, after an Israeli airstrike targeted al-Noueiri, a densely populated area in central Beirut, on Thursday evening, the Lebanese Health Ministry said in its latest update.

Beirut airport empty as rubble lines roads of Lebanese capital after Israeli attacks

Beirut airport empty as rubble lines roads of Lebanese capital after Israeli attacks

The 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting concluded in east China's Suzhou on Saturday, yielding fruitful results and laying significant groundwork for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.

The trade ministers' meeting focused on "building an open and predictable regional and multilateral economic and trade order" and "fostering new engines of innovative and dynamic trade and investment cooperation."

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao briefed the media on the meeting's outcomes at a press conference.

Wang said the meeting issued a joint statement titled the Suzhou Statement, and approved the latest edition of the APEC Roadmap for Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Services.

All parties agreed to advance policy innovation and reform in services trade, build an open and predictable investment environment, improve regional trade facilitation and supply chain resilience, strengthen standards coordination, and enhance intellectual property protection, Wang told the media.

He also said that substantial progress was made on a framework document for regional digital trade cooperation and the ministers emphasized promoting inclusive AI development, strengthening AI-related trade, and bridging the digital divide to ensure shared benefits from digital transformation.

The minister noted that the outcomes of the meeting demonstrated strong cooperation willingness, highlighted an innovation-oriented approach, and reflected inclusiveness and shared benefits. "The fact that Asia-Pacific economies can come together, uphold the original aspiration of promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation while supporting economic growth and prosperity, and engage in in-depth discussions on the important issue of 'where multilateral and regional economic and trade cooperation is headed,' fully demonstrates that open regionalism and true multilateralism enjoy broad support, and that mutual success and shared development serve the fundamental interests of all economies," Wang said.

2026 APEC trade ministers' meeting concludes with fruitful results