Israa Seblani

Israa Al Seblani (born 1991) is a Lebanese-American physician and endocrinologist. She is a survivor of the 2020 Beirut explosion that occurred on 4 August 2020. Later that month, a video went viral of Seblani having her bridal portraits taken when the explosion occurred.

Biography Seblani interned at Hammoud Hospital University Medical Center in Sidon.

In 2013, she immigrated to the United States, moving to Michigan City, Indiana then moved to Troy, Michigan to complete a residency in endocrinology at a hospital in Detroit.

Seblani met Ahmad Sbeih, a businessman who owns two clothing stores, in November 2016 at a Starbucks in Beirut, while she was visiting family. Seblani has been pleading with federal government officials in the United States to speed up her husband's visa.

On 4 August 2020, Seblani was posing for bridal portraits outside of the Le Grey Hotel in Saifi Village before her wedding. During the photoshoot an explosion occurred at the Port of Beirut, less than a mile away from where Seblani was standing. The explosion, caused by more than 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, killed at least 145 people and left over 5,000 people injured. Her videographer, Mahmoud Nakib, captured the detonation taking place on camera. Her fiancé, Ahmad Sbeih, had stepped away from the photoshoot to grab waters for her and the photographer. Immediately after the blast, Sbeih ran to retrieve Seblani, taking shelter in a nearby restaurant. They were married in a ceremony after the explosion.

The video of Seblani's photography session during which the explosion occurred became a viral video on the internet.

Seblani has stated that she loves Lebanon, but feels that after the explosion, living there is not an option due to safety concerns. After the explosion, Seblani and her husband have received support in the immigration process from U.S. Senator Gary Peters and U.S. Congresswoman Haley Stevens.