Israel strikes Beirut and orders south Lebanon evacuation as conflict mounts

Israel strikes Beirut and issues evacuation directive in southern Lebanon as clashes intensify

On Thursday, Israel launched a new round of attacks, targeting the heart of Beirut while directing residents in southern Lebanon to flee northward. The military announced an order for people within 25 miles of the border to relocate, citing safety concerns as the conflict with Hezbollah reached a critical phase.

The IDF issued the evacuation notice before initiating strikes on what it claimed were Hezbollah positions. The directive encompassed major cities such as Nabatieh and numerous villages. A central Beirut neighborhood, near a cluster of eateries, was also included, with warnings to clear the area before bombardment.

“Where can I go?” Hamza Zbeeb, a 48-year-old from Nimiriya village, which was included in the evacuation plan, expressed his frustration. “Many people have gone to Beirut and returned because there’s nowhere to stay. I don’t want to be on the streets.”

Hours later, Israel bombed two structures in central Beirut. One, located in the Zouq Blat area, was adjacent to a shelter for displaced individuals, displacing families in the city square. The other target was near the prime minister’s office, UN missions, and foreign embassies.

Hezbollah’s escalating assaults, known as “Operation Chewed Wheat” – a reference to a Quranic verse – marked a significant shift. The group, reportedly weakened by nearly two years of Israeli airstrikes, launched over 200 rockets at Israeli territory, including military installations in Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Beersheba. The attacks occurred just days after Israel expanded its evacuation orders to the southern suburbs of Beirut and areas beyond the Litani River.

Residents in border towns described a chaotic night. “Last night was a bit crazy,” said Daniel Dorfman, 43, from Metula, a town close to Lebanon. “I don’t get anxious usually, but all the walls were shaking. It’s a little bit frightening. Here we get zero warning of any attack. You hear the explosions of the interception before you hear the sirens.”

Israel’s military leadership is now evaluating a larger-scale campaign against Hezbollah, following the pro-Iran group’s most aggressive strikes yet. The coordinated assaults, which included rocket salvos and drone swarms, injured two individuals, with most projectiles intercepted or landing in open spaces. The attacks continued into Thursday, causing tremors in Beirut and disrupting the city’s skyline.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported at least 12 fatalities and 28 injuries from a strike in Ramlet al-Baida, central Beirut, where displaced families had been sleeping on the corniche. Videos captured collapsed structures and streets filled with smoke, casting a fiery glow across the region.

Hezbollah’s operation, described as a joint and integrated effort with Iran, involved missile and drone attacks. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated in a statement shared by Fars and Tasnim news agencies that the campaign included a missile strike on Israeli territory, synchronized with Hezbollah’s actions. This marked the first time Iran and Hezbollah synchronized their assaults in the ongoing conflict.