Israel urges south Beirut residents to leave as strikes intensify

WorldPolitics
1 Jun 2026 • 10:51 PM MYT
DPA International
DPA International

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Image from: Israel urges south Beirut residents to leave as strikes intensify
A Lebanese soldier directs the passage of hundreds of cars fleeing the Dahiyeh district in southern Beirut for safer areas after Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, ordered the military to attack targets in the southern suburb of Beirut. (is associated with: «Israel urges south Beirut residents to leave as strikes intensify») Marwan Naamani/dpa

The Israeli military has called on residents of the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut to flee.

In a message in Arabic on X, a military spokesman said that people should leave their homes for their own safety.

If the Hezbollah militia continues its attacks on Israeli cities and towns, the Israeli army will respond with attacks on targets in Beirut's southern suburbs, the message said.

This is the first such evacuation call for this area since a ceasefire came into effect in mid-April.

Israel had already announced new attacks on Hezbollah targets in the Dahiyeh suburbs, prompting many residents to flee the area from the morning.

The suburbs are an important Hezbollah stronghold as well as being a densely populated residential area. Many buildings in the area have already been destroyed in the current conflict.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said earlier on Monday he intends to continue talks with the Israeli government despite the escalating tensions between Israel and the Shiite militia Hezbollah.

Israeli and Lebanese representatives are set to meet on Tuesday in Washington for direct talks to end the fighting. However, Hezbollah is not a party to the talks, and the conditions for an effective ceasefire are not promising.

Israel has expanded its ongoing offensive in the south and is advancing further north, while Hezbollah has stepped up its attacks on northern Israel.

Image from: Israel urges south Beirut residents to leave as strikes intensify
Smoke billows from an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese village of Arnoun. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, ordered the military to attack targets in the southern suburb of Beirut, a pro-Iranian Hezbollah stronghold known as Dahiyeh. (is associated with: «Israel urges south Beirut residents to leave as strikes intensify») Stringer/dpa