Beirut, Lebanon. The Israeli military said it launched an “extensive wave” of attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Wednesday and ordered residents to evacuate, as Lebanon’s reported death toll from Israeli strikes rose above 600.
A strike also hit an apartment block in Beirut’s Aicha Bakkar neighbourhood, wounding four people, Lebanon’s health ministry said.
Strikes and evacuation orders
The Israeli military ordered residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate and told them not to return until further notice. The escalation came as an Israeli strike hit an apartment block in central Beirut’s Aicha Bakkar neighbourhood, the second strike in the heart of the capital in four days, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The Israeli military did not comment on the strike.
“The sound was indescribable, the fear is indescribable. Enough is enough. This is a nightmare, when will it end?” said Bassima Ramadan, a resident living across the street who was woken by the blast around 5:30 a.m.
Casualties and displacement
Lebanon’s health ministry said 634 people had been killed and more than 1,500 wounded since Israel launched its offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah on 2 March, after the group opened fire to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Lebanese authorities said about 800,000 people have been displaced.
Deaths of a priest and Red Cross medic
This week’s toll includes Catholic priest Pierre al-Rahi and Red Cross medic Youssef Assaf, both of whom died from injuries sustained in separate Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon and were buried on Wednesday. Pope Leo offered condolences for Rahi, calling him a “true shepherd” killed while trying to help injured parishioners. The International Committee of the Red Cross said Assaf “lost his life while carrying out his humanitarian duty.”
Military movements and border tensions
The Israeli military has ordered reinforcements to the Lebanese border area, including its elite Golani Brigade. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Hezbollah fighters were bracing for a possible full-scale invasion of the south.
Conditions in shelters
More than 100,000 displaced people are in organised shelters, which Norwegian Refugee Council Lebanon director Maureen Philippon described as operating in “super rough conditions,” lacking showers and sufficient toilets, with fears of infectious diseases spreading.
Israel raises pressure at the United Nations
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, pressed Beirut to act directly against Hezbollah on Wednesday. “If Hezbollah is being dismantled, what are the evidence? What are the operations against the launch sites? Where are the seizures of their weapons? Where is your military?” he said.
How do you think the evacuation orders and shelter conditions will affect civilians in Beirut and southern Lebanon?
