People flee Beirut's southern suburbs after Israeli strikes hit the area

Описание: (2 Mar 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beirut, Lebanon - 2 March 2026
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Wide of heavy traffic as people flee Beirut's southern suburbs
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ghaith al-Habib, resident:
"At first there were three explosions, they were a bit far, we went up to the roof and saw that the explosions were behind us, we could only see the smoke. After about 10 minutes there was another strike, right behind us, we all fled and after another 10 minutes there was the last strike, it was three consecutive strikes, we came here and thank God we are okay now."
3. Mid of people putting bags into vehicle
4. Various of heavy traffic as people flee, people walking on side of road
5. People fleeing on foot, walking next to heavy traffic
STORYLINE:
Scores of people were fleeing Beirut's southern suburbs early Monday after Israel launched a series of strikes in retaliation for missiles fired across the border by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Lebanese government officials had urged Hezbollah not to enter the fray in support of Iran, fearing another damaging war.

The country has not recovered from the last Israel-Hezbollah war, which nominally ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2024.

Israel has continued to launch near-daily strikes in Lebanon since then, which it said aim to stop Hezbollah from regrouping.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in a statement following the strikes said, "we will not allow the country to be dragged into new adventures, and we will take all necessary measures to apprehend those responsible and protect the Lebanese people."

The Israeli military’s Arabic-speaking spokesperson issued an urgent warning on Monday for residents in more than 50 areas across southern Lebanon and Eastern Lebanon to evacuate ahead of possible strikes.

The spokesperson said “Hezbollah’s activities” were forcing the Israeli army “to act against it,” and urged civilians to evacuate their homes and move at least 1,000 meters away from villages to open areas.

It comes as the U.S. and Israel pounded targets across Iran on Sunday, dropping massive bombs on the country's ballistic missile sites and wiping out warships as part of an intensifying military campaign following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

More than 200 people have been killed since the start of the strikes that killed Khamenei and other senior leaders, Iranian leaders have said.

AP video by Hussein Malla and Fadi Tawil

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