In a cloud of unrest, Israel has rekindled tensions by issuing evacuation orders to residents near Beirut, marking a significant escalation since the November cease-fire went into effect.
Evacuations Ordered Near Beirut Amid Renewed Israeli Tensions
Evacuations Ordered Near Beirut Amid Renewed Israeli Tensions
Residents in southern suburbs are directed to leave as tensions rise after a cease-fire
Israel's military has commanded evictions in the Hadath neighborhood of Dahiya, just outside Beirut, following renewed rocket fire aimed at northern Israel. This directive is the first of its kind since the cease-fire established post the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which had unleashed a full-scale war. Avichay Adraee, the spokesman for the Israeli military, shared a map indicating a specific building in the densely populated area that is suspected of being linked to Hezbollah—the Lebanese extremist group.
The military warned anyone within 300 yards of this building to evacuate immediately. Despite the cease-fire, attacks by Israeli forces on suspected militia sites across southern and eastern Lebanon have persisted. The recent warning indicates a turbulence reminiscent of heavier clashes earlier in the conflict.
Amid the chaos, sirens blared in northern Israel; the military reported intercepting one rocket while another fell inside Lebanese territory, with Hezbollah disassociating itself from the incidents. In a stern warning, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened retaliatory actions on Beirut if calm in the Galilee region was interrupted.
The atmosphere in Dahiya has become frantic, with residents attempting to alert each other to the threat. Elie Hachem, the local hospital director, described widespread panic, emphasizing the difficulty in maintaining calm as distress echoed in the streets. Although the hospital, which previously suffered extensive damage, remains open for now, officials are focusing efforts on reassurance amid the growing fears.
As tensions simmer in Lebanon and Israel, the fragile peace established by the cease-fire now hangs in an uncertain balance.
Hwaida Saad and Dayana Iwaza contributed to this report from Beirut. Euan Ward, reporting from Beirut and Aaron Boxerman from Jerusalem, provide ongoing coverage of the situation.
The military warned anyone within 300 yards of this building to evacuate immediately. Despite the cease-fire, attacks by Israeli forces on suspected militia sites across southern and eastern Lebanon have persisted. The recent warning indicates a turbulence reminiscent of heavier clashes earlier in the conflict.
Amid the chaos, sirens blared in northern Israel; the military reported intercepting one rocket while another fell inside Lebanese territory, with Hezbollah disassociating itself from the incidents. In a stern warning, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened retaliatory actions on Beirut if calm in the Galilee region was interrupted.
The atmosphere in Dahiya has become frantic, with residents attempting to alert each other to the threat. Elie Hachem, the local hospital director, described widespread panic, emphasizing the difficulty in maintaining calm as distress echoed in the streets. Although the hospital, which previously suffered extensive damage, remains open for now, officials are focusing efforts on reassurance amid the growing fears.
As tensions simmer in Lebanon and Israel, the fragile peace established by the cease-fire now hangs in an uncertain balance.
Hwaida Saad and Dayana Iwaza contributed to this report from Beirut. Euan Ward, reporting from Beirut and Aaron Boxerman from Jerusalem, provide ongoing coverage of the situation.
