Israel announces new attacks on the capital of Lebanon and causes mass flight; VIDEO

Lebanese flee after warnings from Israel about new attacks on Beirut
Israel announced new attacks on the southern suburbs of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, this Monday (1st).
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said they had given "instructions to the Army to attack terrorist targets" belonging to the extremist group Hezbollah.
Israel's Defense Minister stated that "no there will be calm in Beirut" if Hezbollah attacks continue and promised to establish a military-controlled zone in the Litani River area of southern Lebanon:
"The Dahiyeh region of Beirut is no different from communities in northern Israel: if there is no calm in the north, there will be no calm in Beirut. threats from Israel Defense Forces forces and residents of the State of Israel, and transform the Litani area into a zone under Israel Defense Forces security control, free from weapons and terrorists."
The Israeli offensive further complicates the already complicated negotiations between the United States and Iran to try to end the war in the Middle East. Tehran reiterated this Monday that any agreement with Washington will depend on the implementation of an effective csar-fire in Lebanon.
After the Israeli government's announcement, hundreds of families began to leave the southern outskirts of Beirut, on foot, on motorbikes or in vehicles.
"We left immediately, the warnings caused general panic," said a 24-year-old young man who identified himself as Hadi.
Naji Musulmani, 61, one of the Lebanese who abandoned their homes, said he was on his way to Tripoli, the Libyan capital, and lamented:
"This is the third time we have been displaced... moving from one place to another."
Heavy traffic on a road as people flee the southern suburbs of Beirut after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to attack targets in the suburbs
REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
At the request of France, a session of the UN Security Council was convened. French President Emmanuel Macron says "nothing justifies the major escalation underway in southern Lebanon."
Israel and Lebanon announced a truce on April 17, but the ceasefire was never respected. The Hebrew state claims that the offensive in Lebanon aims to "crush" the Shiite group Hezbollah, which, as an ally of Iran, resumed hostilities on March 2 as a form of solidarity with Tehran, the target of an Israeli-American offensive.
In recent days, the Israeli Army has advanced its offensive in southern Lebanon, while continuing with aerial bombardments. Several locations in the region were devastated, according to residents, and the allegations were confirmed by satellite images.
This Sunday (31), Israel claimed the capture of the strategic fortress of Beaufort, in southern Lebanon, which it described as a "decisive turning point" in the operations.
The Beaufort fortress is located on a rocky elevation that dominates southern Lebanon and part of northern Israel. The site has strategic and symbolic importance, as it served as a base for Israeli forces during the two decades of occupation of southern Lebanon, which ended in 2000 under pressure from Hezbollah.
Last week, the Israeli Armed Forces declared a combat zone throughout Lebanese territory located south of the Zahrani River, almost 40 km from the border between the two countries.
The natural barrier is far beyond the Litani River, about 30 km, and which Israeli troops crossed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday.
In addition, its capture paves the way for an advance by the Israeli Army towards the region of Nabatiyeh, further north.
A new round of talks between Lebanon and Israel, which do not maintain diplomatic relations, is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Washington.

Source: G1