Israel orders evacuation of south Lebanon
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in Beirut's southern neighborhood on March 5, 2026. PHOTO: AFP
On Wednesday, the Israeli military issued a displacement order for all residents in Lebanon south of the Litani River. A map showing the entire southern part of Lebanon shaded in red with two large arrows pointing north accompanied the order.
#عاجل ‼️تحذير عاجل إلى سكان جنوب لبنان
🔸إنّ أنشطة حزب الله الإرهابي تُجبر جيش الدفاع على العمل ضده بالقوة. جيش الدفاع لا ينوي إلحاق الأذى بكم.
🔸حرصًا على سلامتكم، عليكم إخلاء منازلكم فورًا. كل من يتواجد بالقرب من عناصر حزب الله أو منشآته أو وسائله القتالية يعرّض حياته للخطر.… pic.twitter.com/4yVqByIonwNearly 84,000 people have been displaced over the last 4 days, according to Lebanon’s state-run media outlet, the National News Agency.
Israel had issued an evacuation warning to residents of about 50 towns and villages in Lebanon's south and east — both Hezbollah strongholds.
"For your safety, evacuate your homes immediately and move at least 1,000 metres (0.6 miles) away from your village to open areas," army spokeswoman Ella Waweya said in a statement on X on Monday.
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The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) voiced "serious concern" on Wednesday about the recent Israeli forces' evacuation demand for civilians from the mission's area of operation.
"UNIFIL notes with serious concern the latest Israel Defence Forces (IDF) statement demanding evacuation of the civilian population from UNIFIL’s area of operations to north of the Litani river," said a statement by the mission.
It noted that "within the area of operations, peacekeepers observed today several IDF movements and military activities, including near El Khiam, Beit Lif, Yaroun, Houla, Kfar Kila, Kherbeh and Kfar Shouba."
"All of these are happening while Israeli airstrikes and other air activities continue," it added.
Noting that the moves not only violate UN Resolution 1701, which demanded a halt to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the statement said it also violates "Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
"UNIFIL reiterates its call to all actors to exercise maximum restraint and redouble efforts to prevent the current situation from spiralling out of control," it added.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric conveyed the UN chief's deep "concern" about the situation in Lebanon. "He's particularly concerned about the impact of hostilities on the civilian population," said Dujarric.
Citing local sources, Dujarric reported that "since the onset of the renewed hostilities, at least 80,000 people have sought refuge in collective shelters in Lebanon."
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On the funding issue, he said, "Even prior to this escalation, the humanitarian community was aiming to reach 1.5 million vulnerable people with humanitarian aid through the $1.6 billion 2026 appeal."
"Our partners are now responding with fewer financial and human resources than in previous years. That, of course, limits the scale and speed of assistance at a time when needs are rising sharply," he said, urging additional funding to "sustain and expand life-saving operations."
Dujarric said, "UNIFIL continues to assess the situation to ensure the safety and security of personnel," and stressed that "international law is not a mystery."
He also called for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure at all times.
Israel has repeatedly violated a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, signed in November 2024, carrying out near-daily strikes that have left hundreds dead and wounded.
Israel began its offensive against Lebanon in October 2023 and escalated it into a full-scale war in September 2024, killing more than 4,000 people and wounding 17,000.
With input from Web Desk.