Lebanese Flee Dahiyeh after Urgent IDF Warning
Dahiyeh is emptying: Thousands of Lebanese civilians are fleeing Beirut's southern suburbs after the IDF issued urgent evacuation orders for Haret Hreik, Hadath, and Bourj el-Barajneh. Stay updated on the mass displacement and the intensifying airstrikes in Lebanon.
A wave of panic swept through Beirut’s southern suburbs as the IDF issued what local observers called an "unprecedented" ultimatum to several high-density neighborhoods. Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, released detailed maps on social media, warning that strikes against Hezbollah command centers and weapons caches were imminent.
The Exodus from Dahiyeh
Residents of Bourj el-Barajneh, Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Shiyyah were seen loading vehicles with suitcases and mattresses, or fleeing on foot through streets littered with debris from previous strikes.
Specific evacuation routes were mandated by the IDF to prevent civilian casualties:
* Residents of Bourj el-Barajneh and Hadath were instructed to move east toward Mount Lebanon via the Beirut–Damascus road.
* Residents of Haret Hreik and Shiyyah were told to move north toward Tripoli.
* A strict prohibition was placed on moving south, with the IDF warning that any movement toward the front lines would endanger lives.
Beirut Under Pressure
The mass movement has paralyzed the capital's main arteries. Downtown Beirut and Martyr’s Square have become makeshift hubs for displaced families, while dozens of schools have opened their doors to accommodate the overflow. This internal migration comes as Lebanon’s central government continues to distance itself from Hezbollah, having recently banned the group's "unauthorized" military activities in a bid to preserve national sovereignty.
As of Thursday afternoon, thick plumes of black smoke began to rise over the Dahiyeh skyline as the first of the signaled strikes were carried out against the designated targets.