Israeli fighter jets struck dozens of targets in Beirut and other areas of southern Lebanon overnight, including branches of a bank accused of holding funds used by Hezbollah.
The military’s Arabic spokesman, Avichay Adraee, had earlier in the night issued several evacuation orders for buildings throughout southern Lebanon he said were in the vicinity of facilities belonging to the U.S.-sanctioned Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association Bank.
“Get away from it immediately,” he said in a video statement.
Jeanine Hennis, the United Nations’ special coordinator for Lebanon, said that after the IDF issued its evacuations, said there was “widespread panic” in Beirut.
“A brief window to escape to safety. Intense blasts reverberate across the night sky. With each day, Lebanon suffers more. But even amid the escalating violence, solutions remain available. If only opportunities would be seized,” she said.
Early Monday, the Israel Defense Forces announced it had struck dozens of Hezbollah facilities and sites it accused the Iran-proxy militia of using to finance its war against Israel.
Israel Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Monday morning said 15 buildings in the Lebanese capital of Beirut were struck as the IDF carried out a wide-scale attack targeting “Hezbollah’s financial infrastructure.
