Israeli airstrikes hit southern Beirut, forcing mass evacuations ahead of Muslim holiday

Israeli airstrikes struck the southern suburbs of Beirut late Thursday, triggering mass evacuations just before the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. 

The bombings prompted sharp condemnation from senior Lebanese officials, who accused Israel of breaching a ceasefire agreement.

At least ten airstrikes hit Dahiyeh—a densely populated district in southern Beirut—following Israeli military warnings urging civilians to evacuate four specific locations in the area. The attack marks the fourth Israeli bombardment of Dahiyeh since a U.S.-brokered truce in November ended a year-long conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The ceasefire stipulates that Hezbollah must withdraw all military forces and equipment from southern Lebanon and calls for the disarmament of all non-state militant groups across the country.

According to the Israeli military, Thursday’s strikes targeted “underground UAV production infrastructure sites deliberately embedded in civilian areas.” The military claimed that Hezbollah was manufacturing thousands of drones there, allegedly with Iranian support.

Hezbollah has yet to comment on the latest strikes. In previous incidents, the group has denied allegations of using civilian areas to store or develop military assets.

A Lebanese security source told Reuters that Lebanon’s army had earlier inspected one of the targeted sites after receiving a tip-off about stored military equipment but found nothing. Subsequent attempts by the army to re-enter the area and prevent the strikes were blocked by Israeli warning fire.

The airstrikes sent large plumes of smoke into the air, with videos showing chaos and gridlock as residents fled. Many escaped on foot to relatives’ homes, while others remained in the streets.

Israeli strikes were also reported in the southern village of Ain Qana shortly after similar evacuation warnings.

The timing of the attacks, on the eve of Eid al-Adha, heightened fears and panic. The Office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon described the strikes as exacerbating anxiety among civilians preparing for the holiday.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attacks, labeling them a “clear violation” of international law and ceasefire commitments.

Both Israel and Hezbollah have accused each other of failing to uphold the truce, which has increasingly shown signs of strain. Despite the agreement, Israel continues to carry out operations in southern Lebanon and maintains control of five strategic hilltops in the region.

The recent escalation stems from renewed hostilities that began in October 2023, when Hezbollah launched attacks on Israeli positions in support of Hamas. Israel responded with a sweeping aerial campaign that, over time, killed thousands of Hezbollah fighters and dismantled much of its leadership, including the group’s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah.