Israel Issues Mass Evacuation Orders Across Beirut Suburbs and Southern Lebanon

Israeli military issued large-scale evacuation orders across Lebanon, including Beirut’s southern suburbs and wide areas of Southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, as fighting with Hezbollah intensified during a broader regional conflict that began in late February 2026. The directives instructed civilians to leave multiple urban districts and hundreds of villages that Israel said were located near Hezbollah infrastructure or potential military targets. The evacuation notices included the entire Dahiyeh district in southern Beirut, a densely populated area associated with Hezbollah political and military presence. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee published warnings in Arabic on social media urging residents of neighborhoods such as Bourj el-Barajneh, Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Chiyah to leave immediately and move north or east for safety. The warning triggered widespread movement of civilians, with heavy traffic and residents leaving the area on foot or by car. At the same time, Israeli forces issued broader evacuation orders covering large portions of Southern Lebanon and areas south of the Litani River, as well as communities in the Bekaa Valley. These directives formed part of a series of warnings issued between 03/03/2026 and 06/03/2026, instructing residents of numerous towns and villages to evacuate ahead of planned airstrikes and military operations. Humanitarian organizations reported that the scale of the evacuation orders covered a significant portion of Lebanese territory and contributed to large population movements. Following the warnings, Israeli forces carried out airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs and other parts of Lebanon targeting sites that Israel said were linked to Hezbollah operations, including headquarters locations and facilities allegedly used to store drones. The strikes occurred overnight and into the morning of 06/03/2026 after the evacuation instructions were disseminated. The evacuation directives were issued amid escalating exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah had launched rockets and artillery attacks toward Israeli territory, including areas near Haifa and the Golan Heights, while Israeli forces expanded aerial bombardments and ground operations near the Lebanese border. The ongoing fighting led to widespread displacement across Lebanon, with hundreds of thousands of residents leaving affected areas during the first week of the conflict.