Israel launches huge strikes against south Beirut after mass evacuation order
The Guardian World
by William Christou in Beirut and Andrew Roth in WashingtonMarch 5, 2026
Residents fled Lebanese capital in panic before assaults on claimed Hezbollah targets while Tehran continues to launch retaliatory attacks
Middle East crisis – live updates
Israel has launched massive strikes against the southern suburbs of Beirut just hours after its military ordered the entire population of the area – more than 500,000 people – to evacuate immediately.
The Israel Defense Forces had told all residents of the area to “save your lives and evacuate your homes immediately”, prompting an exodus of the Lebanese capital’s population in scenes of panic, before its warplanes launched strikes against what it claimed were Hezbollah targets in the area. The area covered by the order included several hospitals and government ministries.
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Originally published on The Guardian World on 3/5/2026