The Israeli military issued an evacuation order on Friday for residents near Beirut, marking the first such directive since a US-brokered ceasefire took effect after rockets were launched on northern Israel. Avichay Adraee, an Israeli military spokesperson, shared a social media map highlighting a single red-marked building in the Hadath neighborhood of Dahiya, a densely populated area on the outskirts of Beirut. Adraee urged immediate evacuation from the vicinity, citing proximity to facilities linked to Hezbollah, a Lebanese group combining political and militant activities.

Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that sparked the conflict in Gaza, Hezbollah showed solidarity by launching rockets and drones at Israeli targets. The confrontation escalated into full-scale war with an Israeli ground invasion before both sides agreed to a ceasefire in November.

Despite the truce, Israeli forces have continued to target suspected militant sites in southern and eastern Lebanon. However, Dahiya, known for its support of Hezbollah, had avoided such actions until now. Air-raid sirens were triggered in northern Israel, and while the military reported intercepting one projectile and another landing in Lebanon, Hezbollah denied involvement, affirming their adherence to the ceasefire.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz responded with a threat to target Beirut unless there was peace in northern Israel. In Dahiya, the announcement led to scenes of panic, with residents attempting to warn neighbors, reminiscent of the war’s most intense periods.

Elie Hachem, director of St. Therese hospital—as damage from the conflict remains evident—stated that while the staff did not plan to evacuate, efforts were underway to keep everyone calm. Hwaida Saad and Dayana Iwaza contributed to this coverage from Beirut.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/world/middleeast/israel-orders-residents-in-neighborhood-near-beirut-to-evacuate.html