Israel orders evacuation of eastern Lebanon's Baalbek

Israel issued a new evacuation order on Wednesday to residents of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon, the Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesperson said on X.

The spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said residents of Baalbek, Ain Bourday, and Douris, should leave the areas via the Zahle-Baalbek Highway, the Nahle-Baalbek Road, or Cedar Road-Baalbek. 

Adraee added, "Being near Hezbollah elements, facilities or combat equipment may put you at risk."

This is the first time an Israeli evacuation order was given to an entire city.

The city, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, is home to some of the best preserved Roman temples.

There are around 80,000 residents in Baalbek. They received a text message with the evacuation warning on Wednesday late morning. Footage on social media showed thousands of vehicles lining up the highways in an attempt to evacuate shortly after Israel's order.

The Civil Defense is attempting to coordinate the largescale evacuation. Some residents are departing on foot due to lack of resources amid dropping temperatures and the threat of strikes. 

Residents of Baalbek said some areas of the city contain Hezbollah sites, although large swathes do not, according to a Sky News Arabia correspondent. 

The Israeli military struck the Bekaa Valley at least 12 times overnight on Monday, killing at least 60 people and injuring 58 others.

No evacuation orders were given for any of the towns struck overnight. 

The Israeli military said on Wednesday it struck more than 100 sites across Lebanon over the last 24 hours, including a rocket launch site used by Hezbollah in an attack on the Israeli town of Ma'alot-Tarshiha on Tuesday, which killed an Israeli-Arab citizen and injured several others. 

Lebanon's health ministry updated the death toll from Israeli attacks to 2,792, with 12,772 others wounded since October 2023, it reported on Tuesday.

In the last 24 hours, 82 people were killed, and 180 others wounded, the report added.

#عاجل إنذار عاجل إلى سكان بعلبك وعين بورضاي ودورس
🔸جيش الدفاع سيعمل بقوة ضد مصالح حزب الله داخل مدينتكم وقراكم ولا ينوي المساس بكم.
🔸من أجل سلامتكم عليكم اخلاء منازلكم فورًا والانتقال خارج المدينة والقرى عبر المحاور التالية: ⭕️أوتوستراد زحلة - بعلبك
⭕️طريق نحلة - بعلبك
⭕️طريق… pic.twitter.com/1FZoFWqdeO

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) October 30, 2024