Israeli strikes on Dahiyeh cause ‘a lot of panic’
Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh is a very large area comprising several neighbourhoods. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of people who live here.
The Israeli army, approximately an hour ago in a post on X, threatened to target up to eight buildings in four different locations, calling on the people to evacuate, to move away 300 metres [328 yards] from these buildings. But the reality is, these are major air strikes, so everyone who lives in this whole area has to leave.
There was heavy traffic here as people were making their way out. As you can imagine, this did cause a lot of panic. This is not the first time the army has carried out air strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs since a ceasefire came into force last November, but this is the largest attack.
If you talk to people here, what they will tell you is that this is terrorism. Israel warns people to leave in the middle of the night and on the eve of a major religious holiday. The Lebanese authorities call these attacks aggression and blatant violations of the ceasefire.
Smoke rises, following an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs
Israel issues more forced evacuation orders in Lebanon
This time, the Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee has warned residents of the southern Lebanese village of Ain Qana to stay away from two buildings that appear set to be targeted. Ain Qana is located to the east of the coastal city of Sidon.
The Israelis have repeatedly and continuously carried out air strikes across Lebanese territory, claiming Hezbollah activity and giving forced evacuation orders. However the Israeli military never gives any proof or backing for a lot of the claims that they use to justify their air attacks in different parts of the Middle East.
Lebanon’s prime minister says more than 500 Hezbollah installations dismantled
Nawaf Salam has said that the Lebanese military is dismantling infrastructure belonging to the armed group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, stating that the government will continue to push to restore authority over “the entire national territory”.
“The Lebanese army is continuing its deployment and has so far dismantled more than 500 military positions and arms depots south of the Litani river,” the prime minister said during a television address marking his first 100 days in office.
Lebanon prime minister, UN call for Israel to respect ceasefire
Lebanon Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has condemned the Israeli strikes, calling them a “systemic and deliberate of Lebanon and its security, stability and economy” on the eve of Eid al-Adha and as summer tourism season begins.
In a statement released by his office, Salam called on the international community to deter Israeli from “continuing its aggressions” and compel it to fully withdraw from Lebanese territory.
The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, meanwhile, called for a “halt to any actions that could further undermine” the ceasefire. It called on the sides to use available diplomatic tools to “prevent unnecessary and dangerous escalation”.
1/3 Tonight’s strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut generated renewed panic and fear on the eve of Eid Al-Adha.
— UNSCOL (@UNSCOL) June 5, 2025
Israeli defence minister says Lebanon attacks enforce ceasefire
In a post on X, Israel Katz has hailed today’s strikes on southern Beirut, saying they were needed to “enforce the ceasefire rules”.
Israel has repeatedly claimed that Lebanon’s government is unable to oversee the ceasefire agreement reached with Hezbollah in November of last year. It has maintained its attacks on Lebanon since the agreement was reached are in line with the ceasefire.
“We will continue to enforce the ceasefire rules without any compromises and will not allow any entity to create threats against the northern communities and all citizens of the State of Israel,” Katz said.
The UN special coordinator for Lebanon had previously called for a “halt to any actions that could further undermine” the ceasefire.
