The Israeli army said that it launched new air strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs after warning thousands of residents to evacuate the area.
Israeli warplanes have carried out at least five air strikes so far targeting the areas of Al-Jamous and Haret Hreik near Al-Sahel Hospital, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Earlier on Thursday, the Israeli army ordered residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate their homes immediately ahead of new air strikes.
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee specifically urged residents of the Burj al-Barajneh and Hadath neighbourhoods to head east towards Mount Lebanon via the Beirut-Damascus Road.
Residents of Haret Hreik and Shiyah were ordered to move north towards Tripoli along the Beirut-Tripoli highway or east towards Mount Lebanon via the Metn Expressway.
Escalating conflict
The Israeli army has mounted a series of air strikes across Lebanon since Monday, killing more than 120 people and injuring nearly 700 others following cross-border attacks by Hezbollah.
The escalation followed an Israeli-US offensive on Iran which has killed more than 900 people since Saturday, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top military officials.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries, which are home to US assets.
Israel has repeatedly violated a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon signed in November 2024, carrying out near-daily strikes that have left hundreds dead and wounded.
Israel began its offensive against Lebanon in October 2023 and escalated it into a full-scale war in September 2024, killing more than 4,000 people and wounding around 17,000.
