'Dahiye will look like Khan Yunis': Panic hits Beirut over Israeli displacement orders
At least 100 people have been killed by Israeli attacks across Lebanon in a period of three days
The Israeli military has issued forced displacement orders for the entirety of Beirut’s southern suburb, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes in a panic ahead of the massive strikes expected to take place.
An Israeli army spokesman told all residents of the suburb to move east and north in a post, attaching a map showing four large areas of the capital.
“Save your lives, evacuate your homes immediately,” the army’s Arabic spokesman Avichay Adraee said.
The threats resulted in mass panic and major traffic jams as residents of the suburb scrambled to reach safety.
Hospitals in the suburb are also being evacuated after staff reported being called and threatened to leave.
“Very soon, Dahiye (Beirut suburb) will resemble Khan Yunis [in Gaza]. Hezbollah made a mistake, and it will pay a heavy price. We are striking at the head of the octopus in Iran, and at the same time we will sever Hezbollah's arm,” Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said.
The forced displacement orders coincided with continued Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, and hours after massive strikes hit the suburb on Wednesday night.
South Lebanon, the east, and Beirut’s suburb have been under heavy bombardment since Hezbollah opened a front against Israel days ago – following over a year of near-daily Israeli strikes on the country in violation of a November 2024 ceasefire deal.
In just three days, Israel has killed over 100 people and injured at least 638.
Hezbollah has been carrying out drone and rocket operations against Israel, including joint barrages with Iran.
The Lebanese resistance has also targeted several Israeli tanks and troop gatherings on the border, resulting in casualties, according to Hebrew reports.
Tel Aviv launched a ground invasion in south Lebanon this week and has ordered the displacement of all residents below the Litani River – around 200,000 people.
“After observing a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers at the Balat position at 16:55 on Thursday, 05/03/2026, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted it with a guided missile and achieved a direct hit,” Hezbollah said on Thursday afternoon.