Beirut, Lebanon. Israel carried out heavy overnight airstrikes on Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut after ordering residents to leave, as Hezbollah warned Israelis to leave towns and villages near the border.
Overnight strikes and reported targets
Explosions and flashes lit up the night sky over Beirut’s southern suburbs, according to Reuters footage. The Israeli military said it carried out 26 waves of strikes overnight, stating that targets included Hezbollah command centres and weapons storage facilities.
Evacuation orders in Beirut and beyond
On Thursday, an Israeli military spokesperson told residents of the southern suburbs to move east and north, posting a map showing four large districts of the capital that he said must be evacuated, including areas adjacent to Beirut airport.
Israel has also ordered Lebanese to leave large areas of southern and eastern Lebanon.
Hezbollah warning to Israelis near the border
Hezbollah, in a message published in Hebrew on its Telegram channel early on Friday, warned Israelis to leave towns within 5 km (3 miles) of the border.
“Your military’s aggression against Lebanese sovereignty and safe citizens, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the expulsion campaign it is carrying out will not go unchallenged,” Hezbollah said.
Context and casualty reports
During fighting between Hezbollah and Israel in 2024, tens of thousands of Israelis were evacuated from towns in the border area but many have since returned. Israeli officials have previously said there are no plans to remove them for now.
Lebanon was pulled into the war in the Middle East on Monday, when Hezbollah opened fire, igniting a new Israeli offensive, with airstrikes focused on Beirut’s southern suburbs and on southern and eastern Lebanon.
The Lebanese health ministry has reported 123 people killed and another 683 wounded as a result of Israeli attacks this week, with figures that do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. There have been no reported fatalities in Israel as a result of Hezbollah attacks.
What steps would you take to follow official guidance if you were ordered to evacuate your area?
