Israel initiated airstrikes on Hezbollah's stronghold in Dahiyeh, southern Beirut, on Thursday, warning residents to evacuate for their safety. The Israeli army informed the local population to immediately leave their homes to avoid casualties as they aimed to target the group's infrastructure. Dahiyeh, a suburb of Beirut, is known to be heavily populated and a key area for Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran.

The urgency of the evacuation orders led to residents taking to the streets, with some firing shots into the air to alert their neighbors. Traffic jams formed as hundreds of thousands of residents attempted to flee the affected areas. Simultaneously, explosions were reported in Tel Aviv, where air raid sirens prompted citizens to find shelter as tensions escalated on both sides of the border.

As the situation continues to unfold, this military escalation is likely to increase the death toll in Lebanon, which has already reached 123 according to the country’s Health Ministry. On the same day of the Israeli offensive, six members from two families were reported killed in airstrikes in southern Lebanon, highlighting the rising humanitarian crisis and the impact of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.