AP explains: Thousands seek to flee Lebanon's capital after Israeli order signals further strikes

Описание: (5 Mar 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beirut, Lebanon - 5 March 2026
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Malak Harb, The Associated Press:
"Israel has issued evacuation notices for the entirety of Beirut’s southern suburbs, as its conflict with the Hezbollah militant group intensifies."
2. Various of traffic as people evacuate Beirut suburbs
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Malak Harb, The Associated Press:
"The announcement stirred panic across the Lebanese capital, all the main roads have been gridlocked for hours amid fears of ongoing military escalation in the days long conflict. Over 95,000 people have already been displaced, and now that number is expected to soar as Israel continues striking the country."
4. Various of traffic as people evacuate Beirut suburbs
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Malak Harb, The Associated Press:
"Lebanon’s top political leadership, meanwhile, has scrambled in a desperate bid to diffuse tensions, including a call to French President Emmanuel Macron, who has urged Hezbollah to stop its rocket-fire and for Israel to refrain from a ground invasion and any sort of escalation. Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem in his first address since the onset of the conflict said the group’s rocket fire is an act of self defense after near-daily Israeli strikes since the end of their last war in late 2024, and has vowed to continue fighting."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nabatieh, Lebanon - 5 March 2026
6. Various of rubble at strike site
7. Various of excavator removing rubble

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beirut, Lebanon - 5 March 2026
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Malak Harb, The Associated Press:
"Lebanon’s cash-strapped authorities meanwhile are rushing to open shelters and provide aid for the growing number of displaced people fleeing their homes. Many are unable to find space in crowded schools and are opting to sleep in their cars or on the streets as they search for a place to stay."
9. Various of woman sitting in the corniche area in the center of the capital with her children
10. Various of families staying in the corniche with their belongings
STORYLINE:
Traffic was gridlocked in Lebanon's capital on Thursday as panicked residents tried to flee after Israel's military ordered people from all of Beirut's southern suburbs to evacuate, apparently signaling plans for a major bombardment of the area.

The order for the area known as Dahiyeh advised residents to “save your lives and evacuate your homes immediately,” and specified which routes residents of different areas could take toward central Beirut and further north.

Since the resurgence of hostilities between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group, Israel has struck sites in Beirut’s suburbs and issued a blanket warning for residents south of the Litani River — an area in southern Lebanon stretching to the border with Israel — to evacuate their homes, but had not previously issued a blanket evacuation order for Beirut’s southern suburbs.

After the attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran triggered a new war in the Middle East, Hezbollah launched missiles and drones into Israel on Monday for the first time in over a year, and Israel has retaliated with bombardment of southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs.

The conflict had claimed 102 lives and forced the displacement of more than 83,000 people in Lebanon before Thursday's evacuation order.

The order rattled Lebanese authorities, with President Joseph Aoun calling his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in an urgent bid to halt the anticipated widespread strikes, according to a statement from his office.






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