Lebanon says 11 killed in Israeli strikes on Tyre

TLE Desk: At least 11 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre and surrounding areas on Tuesday, as Israel issued an evacuation warning covering the entire historic coastal city, reports AFP.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said an Israeli strike near Tyre killed three people and wounded nine others, including two women, raising the overall death toll in the region to 11.

The attacks were part of a wider Israeli military campaign against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli raids on more than a dozen locations across southern Lebanon throughout the day.

The escalation came despite Iran’s warning on Monday that it would resume attacks on Israel if Israeli forces continued striking Lebanon. Tehran has insisted that Lebanon must be included in any agreement aimed at ending the broader regional conflict.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israel’s military said its forces had killed a gunman who infiltrated Israeli territory from Lebanon and opened fire on troops.

Residents of Tyre began fleeing after the Israeli army issued an evacuation order covering the city, including its Christian quarter, nearby Palestinian refugee camps and surrounding neighbourhoods.

An AFP correspondent reported heavy traffic heading north as families left the city. In the coastal city of Sidon, displaced residents from Tyre were seen arriving with belongings packed onto vehicles.

“Urgent warning to the residents of the city of Tyre, including the Christian quarter, and the camps and surrounding neighbourhoods,” the Israeli military said in a statement posted on X.

“For your safety, we ask you to immediately evacuate your homes and move north of the Zahrani River.”

Municipal council member Walid al-Tawil said most residents had left for Sidon or Beirut, while only a small number remained in the affected neighbourhoods.

The Zahrani River lies about 30 kilometres north of Tyre. Israel declared all areas south of the river combat zones last month.

The NNA reported that Israeli strikes hit the outskirts of Tyre before the evacuation notice and continued after the warning was issued. Rescue teams were still searching through rubble for survivors.

Last week, Israel alleged that Hezbollah members were operating in Tyre’s Christian quarter and warned that evacuation orders could follow if militants remained there.

Hezbollah has continued attacks on Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon, while refusing to disarm despite repeated calls from Lebanese authorities.

According to Lebanese officials, Israeli attacks since March have killed 3,666 people and displaced more than one million others. On the Israeli side, the military says 29 soldiers and one civilian contractor have been killed in Lebanon.

A ceasefire announced in mid-April has largely collapsed, with both sides continuing military operations.