Israel Orders Evacuation of Beirut’s Southern Suburbs as Tensions With Hezbollah Escalate

Israel warned residents to evacuate Beirut’s southern suburbs on Thursday, signaling a potential escalation in the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. The warning targeted densely populated areas of the Lebanese capital known as Dahiyeh, a region largely controlled by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. The Israeli military urged civilians to leave immediately and relocate to safer areas to the north and east.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued the warning on social media platform X, posting a map highlighting four large districts that residents were instructed to evacuate. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging civilians to protect their lives by leaving their homes and avoiding travel southward, which could put them in greater danger.

Following the announcement, thousands of residents rushed to flee the area. Television footage showed major roads leaving the southern suburbs heavily congested as families escaped by car or on foot. Warning shots were reportedly fired in some neighborhoods to push residents to evacuate more quickly.

The evacuation order comes after Hezbollah launched attacks earlier in the week, drawing Israel deeper into the conflict in Lebanon. Israeli airstrikes have since focused on Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs as well as areas in southern and eastern Lebanon.

Many displaced families have already been forced to relocate multiple times. Aliyyeh Hijazi, a 66-year-old woman from southern Lebanon, described the hardship after fleeing her village earlier in the week. She moved first to Sidon and then to Beirut’s Dahiyeh area, only to be forced to flee again after the Israeli warning.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich further intensified tensions with a video statement posted online. Standing near the Lebanon border, he said the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh could soon resemble parts of Gaza, including Khan Younis, which have suffered extensive destruction during Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Hamas.

The evacuation order marks the first time Israel has instructed residents to leave the entire Dahiyeh area rather than specific buildings. The Israeli military also issued evacuation warnings for parts of the eastern Bekaa Valley, another region where Hezbollah maintains significant influence.

The escalating conflict has also disrupted travel in Lebanon. Nearly all incoming and outgoing flights at Beirut’s international airport were canceled Thursday evening and Friday. The airport is located near the targeted zone, raising safety concerns.

Residents in the affected areas reported receiving phone calls from international numbers delivering automated messages from individuals identifying themselves as members of the Israeli military, warning them to leave their homes immediately.

Beirut’s southern suburbs are among the most densely populated areas of the city and have been frequent targets during past conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah, including the 2006 war and a more recent conflict in 2024.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 102 people so far this week. The figures do not separate civilian casualties from combatants. The United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, also reported that at least seven children were among the dead.

Despite the ongoing exchanges of fire, there have been no confirmed reports of fatalities in Israel from Hezbollah attacks. Meanwhile, thousands of Lebanese civilians continue to flee their homes as fears grow that the conflict could expand further across the region.