CINCINNATI (WXIX) – As the conflict in the Middle East continues, a local Lebanese chef worked feverishly to get his family out of the country and back to Cincinnati.
Ahmed Jheir owns Five Star Mediterranean Restaurant in St. Bernard. On Thursday, he reunited with his wife and kids, who fled South Lebanon after airstrikes killed hundreds of people, including his wife’s cousin and her children.
His father also died awaiting surgery when doctors were sent to handle combat injuries.
“I’m between here and there and (my) heart is broken. We pray for a ceasefire,” Jheir told FOX19 NOW.
The family was one of the many who fled as airstrikes began.
Jheir says what should have been a two-hour trip for his wife and kids was 18 hours as thousands were trying to escape. After two weeks of praying for their safe return to the U.S., his prayers were answered when his wife Miasan, and his two children made it home.
While Jheir worked to find a way for his family to come, customers knew of his situation and word began to spread on social media bringing a boom in business to his restaurant.
“Yesterday, suddenly everyone comes and I was out of everything,” Jheir said.
Jheir’s family lived in South Lebanon, where they attended school. During summers they return home to Cincinnati. He still has family in South Lebanon. He calls them every day, “to make sure they’re still alive.”
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