Residents flee Tyre's Christian quarter after Israeli warning

The Christian quarter of Tyre, a historic coastal city in southern Lebanon, was emptied on Tuesday following an unprecedented warning from the Israeli army for its residents to leave. The neighborhood, previously spared from Israeli threats, saw its inhabitants packing their belongings and departing, leaving behind a scene of deserted streets, moored fishing boats, and closed restaurants.

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We've packed our things, and we're leaving. What have we done wrong? What are we supposed to do?

Residents expressed a mix of fear and bewilderment. "What have we done wrong? What are we supposed to do?" asked Elias Barbour, a resident who planned to go to his sister's home in Beirut. The normally vibrant district, a summer destination with colorful streets and a nearby beach, had been serving as a shelter for thousands displaced from border villages. Now, it stands nearly deserted.

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The neighbourhood is empty, some people are packing their belongings to leave, and others have already left... and only a few people remain.

This evacuation follows a pattern of escalating Israeli actions against Tyre since Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the conflict on March 2. While Israel had previously issued evacuation warnings for other parts of the Shia-majority city, Tuesday's warning specifically targeted the Christian-majority neighborhood. Lebanese authorities reported that Israeli airstrikes on Tyre prior to the warning had killed eight people.

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Today they threatened the Christian quarter... we were scared and fled.

Municipal council member Walid al-Tawil confirmed that the neighborhood was largely empty, with most residents heading to Sidon or Beirut. Some, uncertain of their destination, remained in their cars parked by the beach. The Israeli military had alleged that Hezbollah members were operating in the Christian quarter, warning of action if the group remained. However, some residents vehemently denied these claims, calling them "lies" intended to instill fear. The conflict has led to over 3,600 deaths in Lebanon and displaced more than a million people since March 2, according to Lebanese authorities.

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It's a lie when they say Hezbollah is here... This is a lie to scare people. They're liars.