Residents of southern suburbs in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, faced an exodus after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion of military operations against Hezbollah. This prompted fears of renewed conflict after a period of tense calm.
Netanyahu stated that he had directed the Israeli forces to target the southern areas of Beirut, known as Dahiya. These areas are a stronghold for Hezbollah, an Iran-supported group. The Israeli military campaign has expanded after remaining relatively restrained since a cease-fire between the U.S. and Iran took effect in April. Despite this, Israel continued assaults on southern and eastern parts of Lebanon, while Hezbollah countered by firing at Israeli troops and locations in northern Israel.
Mr. Netanyahu’s statement led to a mass evacuation from the southern suburbs, with roads quickly becoming congested as residents fled on Monday morning. Many families have been caught in this cycle of evacuation and return due to ongoing tension.
“I lost count of how many times I’ve evacuated,” shared Zahra Khomasi, a 43-year-old resident in Dahiya. She evacuated during previous escalations in 2024 and once again when the current conflict started in March. Following a fragile peace established in April, she returned home but found herself leaving once more with her two children.
Multiple evacuations have become a grim reality for those living in Dahiya since 2023. This period marked Hezbollah’s support for Hamas, another militant group in Palestine, which triggered severe hostilities with Israel. Although a cease-fire was officially announced in Lebanon in November 2024, extensive battles persist across large regions.