Israel Launches Airstrike on Beirut's Southern Suburb

Forced Evacuation and Airstrike in Beirut

The Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, issued an “urgent warning” via social media, ordering residents of the Hadath neighborhood in Beirut’s southern Dahiyeh suburbs to “immediately” evacuate a building identified as a Hezbollah facility.

Following the warning, Israel carried out an airstrike on southern Beirut, with footage showing a massive plume of black smoke rising over Dahiyeh.

This marks the third attack on Lebanon’s capital since the November 27, 2024, ceasefire, which paused over a year of hostilities, including two months of intense conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Chaos and Flight in Hadath

Reporting from Beirut, witnesses described widespread panic as Hadath residents fled the suburb.

“There is panic. People are making their way out of the suburb of Hadath,” a local source reported.

Not all residents receive social media warnings, heightening fear. Gunfire was used to alert people to evacuate, and Lebanon’s National News Agency reported an Israeli drone over Dahiyeh before the strike.

Earlier, white smoke was seen, possibly a warning shot, before the attack’s black plume dominated the skyline.

Fragile Ceasefire Tested

Despite the November ceasefire, Israel has continued targeting alleged Hezbollah sites.

Prior attacks include a March strike that destroyed a building in Hadath and an April 1 airstrike in Dahiyeh that killed at least four people.

“Even there is a ceasefire, the war has really not ended,” a Beirut observer noted.

This latest airstrike raises concerns about further escalation and the ceasefire’s collapse.