Israeli Threats Trigger Fresh Displacement from Beirut's Southern Suburbs

Residents continued to flee Beirut's southern suburbs on Monday following Israeli threats, despite the absence of any formal evacuation orders targeting specific locations in the area.

The displacement began after a statement issued by the Israeli government earlier in the day heightened fears of potential military action. Schools and educational institutions across the southern suburbs were closed as residents awaited further developments.

Meanwhile, Israeli drones continued to fly at low altitude over the area, raising concerns that Israel may be gathering intelligence on potential targets. The district remained under a state of cautious calm as uncertainty over the situation persisted.

According to domestic reports, the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah issued a statement regarding the Beaufort Castle (Qalaat al-Shaqif), denying the presence of any of its fighters or military personnel inside the historic site.

Hezbollah said Israeli claims of controlling the castle were aimed at projecting an image of victory to residents of northern Israel after drones and rockets had reached deep into northern areas. The group also asserted that Israeli forces had not established a permanent presence around the castle and were positioned at a rest area below the site, while what it described as a war of attrition continued in the region.

The escalation comes amid intensified Israeli military operations in Lebanon. More than 40 airstrikes reportedly targeted over 20 towns and villages in southern Lebanon since the morning, in addition to strikes on the town of Meidoun in the western Bekaa Valley.

The military campaign has expanded beyond southern Lebanon, reaching areas in the Sidon district and eastern Bekaa, alongside an expanded ground operation and continued aerial bombardment.

Displacement has not been limited to Beirut's southern suburbs. Large numbers of residents have also fled towns across southern Lebanon following Israeli warnings and evacuation notices issued earlier in the day, according to local reports.

The latest developments mark a further escalation in cross-border hostilities, raising concerns over the humanitarian impact of the conflict and the possibility of broader military confrontation.