The streets of Beirut erupted in chaos on Thursday after the Israeli military ordered people to flee the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, prompting fears that it might be about to begin a large-scale bombing campaign there.
The threat of a major Israeli attack on Beirut was another sign that Lebanon, home to Iran’s proxy force Hezbollah, is fast becoming a new front in the widening conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.
Soon after the order was issued on social media, roads in Beirut were clogged with honking cars as panicked residents attempted to flee the area known as the Dahiya, a densely populated cluster of neighborhoods where Hezbollah has long held sway.
The militant group fired rockets into northern Israel earlier this week, igniting the most recent round of fighting. At least 102 people have been killed in Lebanon since Monday, according to a statement from the Lebanese health ministry.
“I just saw the message, but I have no place to go,” said Amir Hattoum, one of the thousands attempting to leave, who had careened through the back streets on his moped.
Israel has been striking parts of Dahiya since Monday, but one senior Israeli minister, in a video released Thursday on social media, threatened widespread destruction of the area.
“The Dahiya will look like Khan Younis,” said Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, referring to a city in Gaza that was decimated during Israel’s bombing campaign. “You wanted to give us hell, but you’ve brought hell upon yourself.”
The Israeli military said people should head to the north or east of the city, but should not move to the south, as doing so could “endanger your lives.” In recent days, the Israeli military has issued broad evacuation warnings across southern Lebanon, raising concerns that it may be about to launch a ground invasion.
Many of the hundreds of thousands of people who live in Dahiya had already left their homes in recent days, after Israel began carrying out airstrikes there.
Many residents took refuge in government buildings and schools that the authorities have converted into makeshift shelters but, with limited space, some have been forced to sleep in their cars or on the street.
“There’s no safe place in Lebanon anymore,” said Fatima Ibrahim, who had been preparing lunch at one of the shelters when the evacuation order was issued. She said she dropped everything and fled, joining the crowds thronging the streets as people ran in every direction. Ms. Ibrahim planned to try to reach the city’s coastline, she said, hoping there might be safer there.
Such sweeping evacuation warnings in southern Beirut were never issued during Israel and Hezbollah’s most recent war, which ended with a fragile cease-fire in November 2024. The move has left many fearing what might come next.
“We are afraid” said Ms. Ibrahim. “Where shall we go?”
Dayana Iwaza and Aaron Boxerman contributed reporting.
Euan Ward is a Times reporter covering Lebanon and Syria. He is based in Beirut.
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