Israel has issued a sweeping evacuation order for residents in southern Lebanon, instructing them to move north of the Zahrani River, and launched airstrikes on central Beirut, marking a sharp escalation in its conflict with Hezbollah. The Israeli military said the strikes targeted Hezbollah positions, following a coordinated attack by Hezbollah and Iran on over 50 Israeli targets, including military bases.
The evacuation order covers major cities such as Nabatieh and dozens of villages, affecting areas up to 25 miles from the border. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also warned residents of a neighbourhood in central Beirut near a row of restaurants to evacuate before striking two buildings there. One building was adjacent to a shelter for displaced people, causing crowds to gather in the main square.
Hezbollah launched its most intense attacks yet on Wednesday night, firing rockets and drones at Israel, injuring two people. The group claimed responsibility for over 200 rockets targeting Israeli cities including Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Beersheba. Iran's Revolutionary Guards described the operation as a "joint and integrated operation" with Hezbollah, marking the first such coordinated attack.
Israel responded with heavy bombardments on Beirut's southern suburbs and southern Lebanon, continuing into Thursday. The Lebanese health ministry reported 70 deaths from Israeli strikes on Thursday, including two academics killed on the campus of Lebanese University. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack as a "flagrant violation of international laws and norms."
Nearly one million people have been internally displaced in Lebanon over the past 10 days of fighting. Residents expressed despair, with one local official asking, "Where can I go?" as many who fled to Beirut returned due to lack of shelter. In Israeli border communities, residents described a "very difficult" night, with one saying, "All the walls were shaking."
The escalation comes as Israel's military leadership considers an intensified campaign against Hezbollah. Hezbollah's operation, named "Operation Chewed Wheat," is seen as a sharp escalation despite the group being battered by nearly two years of Israeli airstrikes. The conflict shows no signs of abating, with both sides continuing to exchange fire.
