In a recent update, the United Nations International Organization for Migration revealed that the ongoing military escalation between Hezbollah and Israel along the southern border has resulted in the displacement of more than 76,000 people in Lebanon.
According to the latest report from the International Organization for Migration, the cross-border tensions between Israel and Lebanon forced 76,018 individuals to flee from their homes in the southern region, including areas near the border, the capital city Beirut, and the adjacent Baabda area. Notably, about 81 percent of the displaced individuals have sought refuge with their relatives.
The report highlights that a mere two percent of those displaced have sought shelter in 14 collective centers scattered throughout the southern part of the country, with a particular concentration in the coastal city of Tire (south) and Hasbaya (southeast). The majority of the affected population has opted for rented apartments or relocated to their own homes in areas farther away from the volatile border regions.
The exchange of shelling along the border has tragically resulted in the loss of lives, with at least 175 casualties reported on the Lebanese side, including 129 members of Hezbollah. In response, the Israeli army reported the deaths of 14 people, including nine soldiers.
Hezbollah, in a statement, emphasized that its daily operations primarily target Israeli military installations near the border, framing its actions as a show of support for the Gaza Strip and the broader “resistance” movement.
Simultaneously, the Israeli forces have launched air strikes and artillery shelling in various southern Lebanese areas, explicitly targeting what they claim to be Hezbollah’s “infrastructure.”
In a separate development, Lebanese authorities accused Hamas, the Palestinian group, and Israel of being responsible for a bombing incident targeting the political bureau’s deputy head, Saleh Al-Arouri, and six companions in the southern suburb of Beirut. The party has issued a stern warning, asserting that the crime will not go unanswered or unpunished.
