Netanyahu strike warning sparks evacuation in southern Beirut suburbs

Residents have been leaving the southern suburbs of Beirut in large numbers following threats by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume air strikes on the Lebanese capital, according to local reports.

A source in the Ghobeiry municipal authority told Russian media that civilians began evacuating residential districts without waiting for any formal warning from Israeli military authorities, fearing sudden air attacks on densely populated areas.

“People are leaving residential districts without waiting for an official statement about imminent strikes,” the source said, adding that many feared renewed bombardment without prior notice.

Traffic congestion was reported as vehicles moved from southern Beirut towards central and eastern parts of the city. Some residents said they were returning to temporary accommodation after recently moving back home following earlier displacement.

“I only returned a month ago,” said one resident from the Kaafat neighbourhood, identified as Svetlana. “We managed to fix the windows and doors, and now we are leaving again.”

The developments come after Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said they had instructed the military to strike targets linked to Hezbollah in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a stronghold of the group.

On May 25, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for intensified retaliation measures, including the demolition of multiple buildings in southern Beirut in response to drone attacks on Israel.

According to Al Jazeera, since a ceasefire came into effect on April 17, Hezbollah has launched more than 1,000 drones and 700 rockets towards Israel, further straining the fragile truce.

By Aghakazim Guliyev