At least ten strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs Tuesday morning, less than an hour after the Israeli army called for residents of several neighborhoods in the Hezbollah bastion to evacuate.
AFPTV footage showed plumes of grey smoke rising from the area. Witnesses told AFP gunfire could be heard in the area ahead of the strikes -- warning shots by residents for people to leave following the evacuation call.
The Israeli army issued warnings for 11 areas in Haret Hreik, Hadath, al-Laylaki and Ghobeiri.
"You are located near facilities and interests affiliated with Hezbollah, against which the Israel Defense Forces will act in the near future," military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X that included a map showing the buildings it would target in the Lebanese capital.
The Israeli army also called for the evacuation of the towns of Shaqra, Houla, Majdal Selm, Tallousa, Mays al-Jabal, Sawwaneh, Qabrikha, Yuhmor, Arnoun, Blida, Mhaibib, Baraasheet, Froun and Ghandouriyeh in south Lebanon.
Israeli leaders had sent mixed signals on the possibility of a ceasefire with Lebanon on Monday, with Defense Minister Israel Katz seeming to contradict comments by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.