Told to get out immediately. Israel Orders Mass Evacuation in Beirut

Residents across a large section of Beirut were told to evacuate Thursday, signaling a sharp escalation in Israel’s confrontation with Hezbollah. The Israeli military ordered evacuations throughout the city’s southern suburbs, an area known as Dahiyeh that it describes as a Hezbollah stronghold. The order told hundreds of thousands of residents to leave without specifying where they should go, according to the Guardian. Estimates of the population in the area range from about 300,000 to 700,000 people.

In a message posted on social media in Arabic, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents in four major neighborhoods—Bourj el-Barajneh, Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Shiyyah—to “save your lives and evacuate your homes immediately.” He also warned that traveling south was forbidden and “could endanger your lives,” adding that residents would be informed later when it would be safe to return.

Earlier this week, Israeli airstrikes in southern Beirut killed dozens of people. Israel said the strikes were carried out in response to drones and missiles fired by Hezbollah.

It is believed to be the first time Israel has ordered evacuations across such a wide area of the Lebanese capital. Previous warnings had focused on specific buildings the military said were targets. The Associated Press reported that traffic across Beirut was gridlocked Thursday as residents tried to leave the area.

Some residents said they feared Israel might strike wherever they went, while others voiced frustration that Lebanon has been drawn deeper into the broader conflict. “We got sucked into a mess that we have nothing to do with,” said Yousef Nabulsi, who was leaving the area. “People have been displaced and are now staying on the streets, and this is wrong.”

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