More than 100,000 Lebanese in shelters after ‘unprecedented’ Israeli warnings

More than 100,000 people in Lebanon have taken refuge in emergency shelters after Israel issued what officials described as “unprecedented” warnings ahead of possible military strikes, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to spread beyond its original front lines.

Lebanese authorities said large numbers of civilians fled their homes in the south of the country and in parts of Beirut after the Israeli military released evacuation notices telling residents to leave areas believed to contain positions linked to armed groups allied with Iran. The warnings, delivered through leaflets, text messages, and broadcast announcements, marked one of the largest evacuation alerts issued in recent years.

Government officials confirmed that schools, sports halls, and public buildings have been turned into temporary shelters to house families who left their homes with little time to prepare. Aid agencies reported that many people arrived carrying only basic belongings, while others were forced to sleep in cars or overcrowded facilities as the number of displaced residents quickly grew.

Israeli military sources said the warnings were issued before planned strikes on what they described as strategic targets connected to militant activity near the Israeli border. According to the military, civilians were told to move to safer areas to reduce casualties, but the scale of the alerts caused panic in several towns where people feared a large-scale bombardment could begin at any moment.

Lebanon’s interior ministry said the situation is placing heavy pressure on local services, with hospitals, shelters, and emergency teams struggling to cope with the sudden movement of so many people. Officials warned that if the conflict continues to expand, the number of displaced civilians could rise significantly in the coming days.

International aid organisations described the situation as one of the largest emergency displacements in Lebanon in recent years. Relief workers said supplies of food, water, and medical equipment are already being stretched, especially in areas where shelters were not designed to hold large crowds for long periods.

The evacuation warnings come as fighting linked to the Iran war has increasingly affected neighbouring countries, raising fears that the conflict could turn into a wider regional crisis. Analysts say clashes along the Israel-Lebanon border have intensified in recent weeks, with both sides exchanging fire and threatening further action.

Diplomatic efforts to calm the situation are continuing, but there has been little sign of an immediate breakthrough. Officials from several countries have urged restraint, warning that a major escalation in Lebanon could make the war far more dangerous and harder to control.

For many families now staying in shelters, the future remains uncertain, with no clear indication of when it will be safe to return home as military tensions across the region continue to rise.