The Israeli military has issued immediate evacuation directives for residents in Beirut’s southern suburbs, specifically targeting the Dahiyeh area, warning of imminent attacks for non-compliance. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee communicated via social media platform X that movement southward would endanger lives, shortly before Lebanese media confirmed strikes hitting the Ghobeiry and Haret Hreik neighborhoods, though initial casualty reports remained unconfirmed.
Accompanying the warnings, the Israeli military disseminated detailed maps outlining specific evacuation routes. Residents of Bourj Brajineh and al-Hadath were instructed to flee east towards Mount Lebanon, while those in Harat Hreik and Shiyah were directed north toward Tripoli and east via the Metn Expressway.
This densely populated district, a known stronghold of Hezbollah support, has endured the fiercest Israeli assaults since the recent escalation of air and ground operations. A strike on Wednesday inflicted substantial damage to Bahman Hospital in Haret Hreik, wounding several healthcare personnel according to the Lebanese health ministry.
The current evacuation mandate follows a broader Israeli directive for all Lebanese citizens south of the Litani River to relocate northward, a move covering hundreds of square kilometers and displacing over 300,000 people. Human Rights Watch has expressed grave concern, stating this forced displacement raises significant risks of violations under international humanitarian law.
Concurrently, Lebanese state media reported Israeli forces making their deepest incursion since hostilities began, entering the southern town of Khiam approximately six kilometers from the border. This ground advance aligns with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s recent authorization for military operations to capture additional positions in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have maintained a presence since the 2024 conflict with Hezbollah.
The escalation traces to Monday, when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel, an act it stated was retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a strike days prior. This marked a significant expansion of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran into Lebanese territory. The Lebanese health ministry reports at least 77 fatalities and 572 injuries in the renewed offensive. Israeli media indicates the government approved this new wave of attacks Sunday night, preceding Hezbollah’s rocket fire, with sources suggesting the group preemptively acted upon intelligence of an impending major Israeli decision against it.