Israeli politician Smotrich threatens Beirut suburbs with military action

Israeli Forces Order Evacuation of Hundreds of Thousands from Beirut’s Dahiyeh Area

The Israeli military has issued a forced evacuation order for several areas in southern Beirut, affecting hundreds of thousands of residents. The order, which was posted on social media by an Israeli army spokesman, instructs people to leave their homes immediately.

In a video shared online, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned that the Dahiyeh area would soon resemble Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza that has been affected by conflict. The minister’s statement was made hours after the evacuation order was issued.

The Israeli army has also ordered evacuations from other areas in southern Beirut, including Burj al-Barajneh, al-Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Shiyah neighborhoods. More than 400,000 people live in these areas.

A similar evacuation order was issued for all of southern Lebanon earlier this week, leading to a wave of mass displacement. The conflict has intensified cross-border fighting between Israel and its northern neighbor, Hezbollah.

Humanitarian groups have warned that the conflict will have dire consequences for civilians already affected by Israeli attacks. At least 102 people have been killed and 638 others wounded across the country in recent attacks, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The United Nations and human rights organizations have expressed concerns about the forced evacuation order, citing potential risks of violations of international law. Flights at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport were suspended on Thursday due to the threat of further attacks on the Lebanese capital.

Source: Al Jazeera