People fleeing Beirut suburbs after Israeli strikes

已複製連結

Scores of people were fleeing Beirut's southern suburbs early Monday after Israel launched a series of strikes in retaliation for missiles fired across the border by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Lebanese government officials had urged Hezbollah not to enter the fray in support of Iran, fearing another damaging war. 

The country has not recovered from the last Israel-Hezbollah war, which nominally ended with a US-brokered ceasefire in November 2024. 

Israel has continued to launch near-daily strikes in Lebanon since then, which it said aim to stop Hezbollah from regrouping.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in a statement following the strikes said, "we will not allow the country to be dragged into new adventures, and we will take all necessary measures to apprehend those responsible and protect the Lebanese people."

The Israeli military's Arabic-speaking spokesperson issued an urgent warning on Monday for residents in more than 50 areas across southern Lebanon and Eastern Lebanon to evacuate ahead of possible strikes. 

The spokesperson said "Hezbollah's activities" were forcing the Israeli army "to act against it," and urged civilians to evacuate their homes and move at least 1,000 meters away from villages to open areas.