The Israeli army's evacuation order for southern Beirut has generated panic, with hundreds of thousands of residents trying to flee the area. Explosions continued throughout the night.

An evacuation order issued by the Israeli army for almost the entire southern Beirut caused chaos and panic on Thursday evening, with tens of thousands of residents trying to leave the area. Witnesses from the locals describe people running barefoot from buildings, while family chat groups were flooded with desperate calls. The blocked traffic hindered the evacuation, especially for elderly or immobilized individuals. Explosions began to shake the area after nightfall, continuing until dawn.

The southern suburbs of Beirut, affected by intense bombings during the 2024 war with Hezbollah, were targeted again. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich amplified fears with a video statement, comparing potential destruction in Dahieh to that in Khan Younis, a city devastated in the war with Hamas. Although a ceasefire was agreed upon in 2024, Israeli bombings have continued almost daily.

The conflict has recently intensified, with Hezbollah launching rockets at Israel, and the Lebanese government announcing a ban on military operations by the militia. Following the evacuation order, the Lebanese government suspended the visa-free travel regime for Iranian citizens.