BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military launched airstrikes Monday on Beirut's southern suburbs and villages in southern Lebanon, displacing thousands of civilians, local broadcaster Al Jadeed TV reported.
More than six strikes hit the Dahieh suburb of Beirut, with dozens more across the south. The attacks followed evacuation warnings issued by Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee.
Videos on social media showed extensive damage in Dahieh and several southern towns.
Local media said the strikes targeted branches of Al-Qard Al-Hassan, which Israel describes as a Hezbollah-linked financial institution, in areas including Nabatieh, Tyre, Ain Qana, and Toul. The group provides interest-free loans and banking services to supporters of the Iran-backed movement.
Broadcaster MTV Lebanon said about 25,200 people have been displaced from southern and eastern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs.
Tensions escalated after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes. Israel's military warned it would continue targeting Al-Qard Al-Hassan sites and urged residents nearby to move at least 300 meters away, Lebanon's state news agency reported.
Israel's military said it struck more than 70 sites in Lebanon over the past day, targeting Hezbollah weapons storage facilities, launch sites, and missile launchers after the cross-border fire. Endtiem
