Israel strikes Beirut and southern Lebanon after large-scale evacuation orders

Israel’s military conducted waves of airstrikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon on Thursday, targeting suspected Hezbollah infrastructure following large-scale evacuation orders. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) urged residents to move north of the Zahrani River, covering around 300 towns and villages, after Hezbollah drone attacks on Israeli troops and civilians. At least 11 people were killed in the latest strikes, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, while an Israeli drone attack earlier killed six civilians, including children, as they fled threatened villages. In Tyre, Lebanon’s largest city, explosions and fires destroyed buildings, forcing rescue crews to halt work due to dangerous conditions. Footage showed streets ablaze, smoke-filled roads, and debris spreading through neighborhoods, with residents reporting extreme fear. Shelters in Sidon reached full capacity, leaving newly displaced people with no safe options, as authorities advised travel further north to Beirut. The IDF claimed the strikes were ‘targeted,’ but Hezbollah accused Israel of violating the ceasefire that took effect on April 17. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion of Israel’s ground operation in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah attacks on troops and civilians. Residents, including those already displaced, now face severe displacement with no clear refuge, as the International Committee of the Red Cross warned of a ‘perilous tipping point.’ Evacuation orders, the largest since the ceasefire, covered about 14% of Lebanese territory. A local resident, Rida, 52, described panic as people fled their homes, including his destroyed café near Tyre’s beach. The escalation follows weeks of tensions, with both sides accusing each other of ceasefire violations, deepening the humanitarian crisis.