The streets of Dahiya, a Hezbollah stronghold near Beirut, erupted in chaos Friday as Israel issued an unprecedented evacuation order for residents near a suspected militant facility. For the first time since the November ceasefire, the Israeli military marked a building in the densely populated Hadath neighborhood as a potential target, warning anyone within 300 yards to flee immediately. The sudden escalation has reignited fears of a return to full-scale conflict, leaving civilians scrambling for safety amid blaring car horns and frantic warnings.
The Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, posted a map on social media pinpointing the exact location under threat, accusing it of housing Hezbollah-linked “facilities.” This move came after rockets were fired into northern Israel, triggering air-raid sirens in cities like Kiryat Shmona. While Hezbollah denied responsibility, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a chilling warning: “If it’s not quiet in Kiryat Shmona… it shall not be quiet in Beirut.” The statement sent shockwaves through Lebanon, where memories of last year’s devastating airstrikes remain fresh.
Dahiya, a longtime Hezbollah support base, had been spared direct attacks since the ceasefire — until now. Residents described scenes of pandemonium as gunfire rang out in the streets, with people rushing to alert neighbors. “People are panicking,” said Elie Hachem, director of the nearby St. Therese hospital, which was heavily damaged in previous strikes. “I can hear cars honking like crazy outside.” The hospital, just 600 meters from the marked building, has no immediate evacuation plans, but staff are struggling to keep patients calm amid the growing tension.
The recent flare-up underscores the fragile nature of the truce between Israel and Hezbollah. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued strikes on southern Lebanon, but targeting Dahiya — so close to Beirut — marks a dangerous escalation. Analysts warn that any major strike in the area could provoke an all-out retaliation from Hezbollah, dragging both nations back into war. With neither side willing to back down, the region teeters on the brink of another devastating confrontation.
For now, Dahiya’s residents are left in limbo — weighing whether to flee or risk staying. Many recall the relentless airstrikes of last year, when entire buildings were reduced to rubble. “We thought the worst was over,” one local told reporters. “Now, we don’t know if we’ll wake up to bombs again.” The uncertainty is paralyzing, with families torn between abandoning their homes or waiting for the next explosion.
As tensions simmer, the international community watches nervously. The U.S.-brokered ceasefire was meant to bring stability, but with rockets still flying and threats escalating, peace seems more fragile than ever. Will diplomacy prevail, or is Lebanon — and the wider Middle East — headed for another bloody chapter? The next few hours could decide.
The Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, posted a map on social media pinpointing the exact location under threat, accusing it of housing Hezbollah-linked “facilities.” This move came after rockets were fired into northern Israel, triggering air-raid sirens in cities like Kiryat Shmona. While Hezbollah denied responsibility, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a chilling warning: “If it’s not quiet in Kiryat Shmona… it shall not be quiet in Beirut.” The statement sent shockwaves through Lebanon, where memories of last year’s devastating airstrikes remain fresh.
Dahiya, a longtime Hezbollah support base, had been spared direct attacks since the ceasefire — until now. Residents described scenes of pandemonium as gunfire rang out in the streets, with people rushing to alert neighbors. “People are panicking,” said Elie Hachem, director of the nearby St. Therese hospital, which was heavily damaged in previous strikes. “I can hear cars honking like crazy outside.” The hospital, just 600 meters from the marked building, has no immediate evacuation plans, but staff are struggling to keep patients calm amid the growing tension.
The recent flare-up underscores the fragile nature of the truce between Israel and Hezbollah. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued strikes on southern Lebanon, but targeting Dahiya — so close to Beirut — marks a dangerous escalation. Analysts warn that any major strike in the area could provoke an all-out retaliation from Hezbollah, dragging both nations back into war. With neither side willing to back down, the region teeters on the brink of another devastating confrontation.
For now, Dahiya’s residents are left in limbo — weighing whether to flee or risk staying. Many recall the relentless airstrikes of last year, when entire buildings were reduced to rubble. “We thought the worst was over,” one local told reporters. “Now, we don’t know if we’ll wake up to bombs again.” The uncertainty is paralyzing, with families torn between abandoning their homes or waiting for the next explosion.
As tensions simmer, the international community watches nervously. The U.S.-brokered ceasefire was meant to bring stability, but with rockets still flying and threats escalating, peace seems more fragile than ever. Will diplomacy prevail, or is Lebanon — and the wider Middle East — headed for another bloody chapter? The next few hours could decide.
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