Lebanon Displacement: Israelis Strikes Force Thousands to Coastal Shelters
Thousands displaced by Israeli strikes on Lebanon’s capital now shelter along the promenade hugging the Mediterranean Sea. They share it with a growing number of tents and makeshift camps, a visible sign of the escalating conflict that has dramatically widened in recent days.
The latest intensification began on March 18th, when Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon killed more than 20 people, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. The attacks stretched from Beirut through southern and eastern parts of the country, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. On March 21st, renewed evacuation warnings were issued by the Israeli military for seven areas of southern Beirut, with reports of gunfire in the area.
On Wednesday, March 20th, Israeli air strikes destroyed two bridges over the Litani River, a key infrastructure link connecting southern Lebanon with the rest of the country. The Israeli military stated the bridges were targeted because they were allegedly being used by Hezbollah to move fighters and weapons. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the action was a “direct action against Hezbollah’s apply of Lebanon’s state infrastructure to advance terrorist activity.”
Earlier strikes on March 18th targeted a building in Beirut’s Bashoura neighborhood, killing at least six people and injuring dozens more. Al Jazeera reported that the building had been struck once before, a week prior, with the lower floors bombed. The Israeli army claimed Hezbollah had been storing cash in the building.
The escalation marks a widening of Israeli strikes beyond the southern suburbs into central Beirut. Lebanese authorities reported at least 12 people killed and 27 wounded in strikes on March 18th. As of March 22nd, the Lebanese health ministry has reported 968 people killed since March 2nd, including at least 111 children.
Lebanon was drawn further into the conflict following missile launches into Israel by Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group. Israel responded with air strikes and subsequently deployed ground troops into southern Lebanon. Under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, armed groups are barred from operating south of the Litani River, though Israel maintains Hezbollah has a significant presence there.
The Litani River has long been a focal point in Lebanon’s security landscape. The recent Israeli warnings to evacuate have exacerbated an already severe displacement crisis. Lebanese sources estimate that between 15,000 and 20,000 people have been killed, mostly civilians, since the start of the Israeli-Lebanese conflict in 1948.
As of March 22nd, Hezbollah has not commented on the destruction of the Litani River bridges. The conflict continues, with no immediate ceasefire agreement in sight.