Eleven people were killed and nine wounded in Israeli airstrikes targeting the historic city of Tyre and its surroundings in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, following an Israeli military warning for the entire city to evacuate.
The Israeli army stated that its forces eliminated a gunman who had infiltrated Israeli territory from Lebanon and initiated an attack on its soldiers. Concurrently, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported raids on over a dozen other locations across the country's south as Israel continued its military operations against Hezbollah.
An Israeli strike near Tyre claimed the lives of three individuals, according to the health ministry, contributing to the total regional death toll of eleven. The ministry also confirmed that nine others were injured, including two women, corroborating an earlier report of eight fatalities. These developments occurred despite Iran's prior warning that it would resume attacks on Israel if Israeli strikes on its neighbour persisted.
Hezbollah urged Lebanese authorities on Tuesday to improve their relations with Iran, its principal backer, and leverage Tehran's support. This appeal comes days after Iran launched strikes against Israel in retaliation for bombardments on southern Beirut. The previous week, Lebanon's President and Prime Minister had explicitly called for Iran to cease its interference in their country's affairs, following Hezbollah's rejection of a conditional ceasefire with Israel.
An eyewitness from Tyre observed residents, including those from the Christian quarter, evacuating the city amidst heavy traffic heading north after the Israeli warning. Displaced individuals from Tyre, some with their belongings packed onto their car roofs, arrived in Sidon, a coastal city further north. Israel has conducted multiple strikes on Tyre since the current conflict with Hezbollah escalated, following rocket fire from the group into Israel on March 2, reportedly in response to the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader.
The Israeli military issued a warning via X, stating, "Urgent warning to the residents of the city of Tyre, including the Christian quarter, and the camps and surrounding neighbourhoods. For your safety, we ask you to immediately evacuate your homes... and move north of the Zahrani River." A municipal council member confirmed that the neighbourhood was largely deserted, with many residents having departed for Sidon or Beirut. The Zahrani River is situated approximately 30 kilometers north of Tyre, and the Israeli army has designated all areas south of it as "combat zones."
The NNA reported an Israeli strike on the outskirts of Tyre prior to the evacuation notice, with further strikes occurring within the city after the warning was issued. The health ministry had earlier reported that the pre-warning strike resulted in at least eight deaths and 32 injuries, with rescue efforts underway to find survivors in the rubble. Hezbollah, which has maintained its arsenal since the end of the civil war in 1990, has continued its attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Last week, the Israeli military alleged that Hezbollah operatives were active in Tyre's Christian quarter and indicated they would issue evacuation warnings if the group remained present.
