The Israeli military warns residents in dozens of Lebanese locations, including Beirut suburbs, to evacuate immediately ahead of imminent operations.
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military issued urgent new evacuation orders for dozens of locations across Lebanon on Tuesday. The warnings specifically instructed residents in two southern Beirut neighbourhoods to stay away from several buildings ahead of an imminent operation.
Most of the 50 listed locations are in southern Lebanon, which Israel regularly targets to strike Hezbollah infrastructure. “Urgent warning to the residents of Lebanon, specifically in the villages which names are shown,” said a statement by the military’s Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee on Telegram.
“For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately,” he added.
In a separate warning, Adraee told residents of the southern Beirut neighbourhoods Ghobeiry and Haret Hreik to avoid two specific buildings. He stated they were located near Hezbollah facilities and interests targeted for future operations.
“For your safety and the safety of your family members, you must evacuate these buildings and those adjacent to them immediately and stay away from them for a distance of no less than 300 metres,” he said.
A later warning advised those in Beirut’s southern suburbs, especially the Hadath neighbourhood, to avoid a third building. The orders follow Israel’s vow on Monday to intensify attacks and make Hezbollah pay a “heavy price”.
This came after rocket and drone fire from the Iran-backed militant group. Hezbollah said the attack was to avenge the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.
Israel responded on Monday by bombarding Beirut’s southern suburbs and dozens of villages in south Lebanon. The Lebanese government said the Israeli strikes have killed at least 52 people and wounded 154.
In an unprecedented move, Lebanon’s government on Monday banned Hezbollah’s military and security activity. The Iran-backed group, which holds seats in government and parliament, lashed out at the decision.
