Minister of the Israeli Finance Ministry Bezalel Smotrich warned that Beirut’s southern suburbs will be like Khan Younis, Gaza, a city that has faced great destruction since the Gaza war began.
”Very soon Dahiyeh will resemble Khan Yunis,” Smotrich said during a visit to the Lebanese-Israeli border.
“Hezbollah made a mistake, and it will pay a heavy price,” he added, “we are striking at the head of the octopus in Iran, and at the same time we will sever Hezbollah's arm.”
Evacuation Calls Spread
The Israeli army issued widespread evacuation calls on Thursday, warning residents of southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate.
On Thursday morning, the Israeli army issued an evacuation call to residents of southern Lebanon to move to areas north of the Litani River amid ongoing offensives against Hezbollah. This zone also included Bint Jbeil and the city of Tyre.
The Israeli army later announced that it had targeted and neutralized a Hezbollah cell in southern Lebanon after operatives were seen entering into a facility.
Arabic spokesperson to the Israeli army Avichay Adraee also issued an evacuation call to residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs, urging that they evacuate towards the east or the north. Adraee specifically cited Haret Hreik, Chiyah, Hadath, and Burj al-Barajneh as areas that needed to be evacuated immediately ahead of Israeli operations.
Adraee added that evacuees from Beirut’s southern suburbs are “prohibited from heading south,” and “any movement south may put your lives at risk.”
Widespread Israeli Strikes
On Thursday afternoon, Israel targeted buildings across Beirut’s southern suburbs amid the evacuation calls.
The Israeli army carried out a raid on Labaya in southern Lebanon on Thursday afternoon, with reports indicating that 3 people were killed.
Israel targeted a vehicle on the Zahle road in the Bekaa Valley earlier on Thursday.
Israel carried out strikes in the Tyre area as well, near the towns of al-Haniyeh and al-Qalilah, as many towns south of the Litani River lie under Israeli fire.
Strikes were also reported in Haboush, Kfar Tebnit, Arnoun, Kfour, Yahmar al-Shaqif, and Kafrman.
The Lebanese Health Ministry released an updated casualties toll, stating that 102 people have been killed and 638 people have been injured since March 2.
Comments