The Israeli military issued on 30 October, for the first time, evacuation orders for the entirety of the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek, an ancient city with UNESCO World Heritage status.
The orders coincide with a surge in Israeli attacks on eastern Lebanon.
“The IDF will act forcefully against Hezbollah assets inside your city and villages, and does not intend to harm you,” said the Israeli army’s Arabic spokesman Avichay Adraee said via X. “For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move outside the city and villages.”
Residents of the eastern city began pouring out of their homes in a panic on Wednesday morning, rushing to evacuate. Hundreds of thousands resided in Baalbek prior to the war, with around 40 percent of its inhabitants (over 100,000) currently remaining in the city. Baalbek has a history dating back at least 11,000 years, and is most famous for its Roman ruins.
Israel has escalated its attacks across eastern Lebanon indiscriminately. The Lebanese Health Ministry said on 29 October that at least 60 people were killed in the eastern Bekaa region since the previous day.
Several massacres have been committed in the Bekaa, including an attack on civilians in the town of Al-Ram on Tuesday, which killed at least 11.
Israeli attacks on the UNESCO World Heritage city of Tyre (Sour) have also increased recently. Israel carried out several violent attacks on Tyre on 28 October, days after intense bombardment on the city, which leveled several buildings.
The Israeli army issues evacuation orders for the south and Bekaa daily, often with insufficient time for people to flee before starting the attacks.
Hellbound and Down 