Lebanon families hold backup flats amid escalation warning

Families across Lebanon have begun preparing for the possibility of a prolonged evacuation from their homes, amid fears of a broad regional escalation. Those concerns gained new urgency following a severe diplomatic warning delivered to Beirut, according to reports in Lebanese media.

The Lebanese channel Al-Jadeed reported that Lebanon received a stark message warning against a return of the heavy strikes Beirut experienced in the previous round of fighting. According to diplomatic sources, the message included a clear warning: "Lebanon has been warned of the possibility that Israel will repeat the difficult days Beirut experienced during the last war, but this time it will not be limited to one day."

The Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat described how the fear of another round of fighting is changing residential patterns in Dahieh, the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut. According to the report, many residents who fled in the past are not rushing to return to their homes, while others are maintaining backup apartments in areas considered safer. In addition, elderly residents in southern Lebanon are choosing to relocate to the north of the country to avoid another evacuation under fire.

Alongside the alert in Lebanon, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered an intriguing statement regarding the possibility of diplomatic contacts. Official Iranian media outlets, quoted by Al Jazeera, reported that Pezeshkian said Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has granted the government "certain powers" regarding peace talks.

"War will not serve any side, and the enemies will not succeed in forcing us to surrender through it," Pezeshkian clarified. The Iranian president added that his government seeks to resolve tensions through dialogue, but emphasized: "We will stand firmly against the enemy's lies and excessive demands."

Alongside the diplomatic messages from Tehran, the ground remains volatile. Iranian state media reported that an oil tanker caught fire in the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz. According to initial reports, the sudden fire aboard the tanker was caused by a naval mine strike in the strategic shipping lane.

These developments are unfolding against a backdrop of rising tensions in the region, with senior officials in Tehran declaring that "the window for negotiations is closing" and threatening a broad response. At the same time, cautious dialogue is taking place between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah's leadership, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Aoun in a phone call about the devastating consequences that would befall his country in the event of further intervention by the terror organization.

Regional tensions are reaching their peak as President Donald Trump is reportedly considering ordering a strike on Iran immediately after the midterm elections in the United States, according to reports in American media.