The southern Lebanese city of Tyre, once a refuge for many, is now nearly deserted as airstrikes continue to pummel the region. Critics argue that evacuation orders from Israel are aimed at provoking mass displacement rather than ensuring safety.
Dubbed the “prince of doom,” Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson, has taken to social media to deliver ominous warnings to Lebanese residents. Speaking in fluent Arabic, he urges people to evacuate areas targeted for strikes against what Israel claims are Hezbollah positions.
On Wednesday morning, Adraee announced a new evacuation order for parts of Tyre, following similar directives that have affected over 70 villages since September 23. These orders have contributed to the displacement of more than 1.2 million people due to the ongoing conflict.
Amnesty International has condemned Israel’s evacuation tactics, calling them insufficient and questioning whether they are intended to provoke mass displacement. Many orders have been issued late at night, giving residents as little as 30 minutes to flee before strikes commence. Just three hours after Adraee’s warning, airstrikes began, damaging or destroying numerous buildings in Abou Deeb roundabout, a once-bustling residential area.
By Thursday, the previously lively streets of Tyre had transformed. Families were gone, and the landscape was littered with rubble and downed power lines. What were once twelve-story buildings now lay in ruins, scattered with personal belongings—clothes, books, and toys. Elias Mabhoor, a local resident, filmed the destruction for a friend living abroad, lamenting the loss of his friend’s family home.
As residents returned for essential belongings, the sound of an Israeli drone overhead warned them to leave. Hassan Shur hurriedly gathered his caged songbirds from a building with half of its wall missing, fully aware of the imminent threat.
“This is a kind of psychological warfare,” said Nadim Houry, executive director of the Arab Reform Initiative. “They are displacing people through orders, manipulating fear as a tactic.” Historically, Tyre has served as a safe haven during conflicts, hosting displaced individuals and providing refuge. However, the recent escalation of violence has rendered it unsafe.
The day after the evacuation order, the city was nearly deserted. Burnt-out cars lined the streets, and the sounds of distant airstrikes and outgoing rockets filled the air as Hezbollah responded to Israeli attacks. Journalists and cameras replaced beachgoers, capturing the unfolding crisis.
While Israel claims its evacuation orders are intended to minimize civilian casualties, many of its deadliest strikes have occurred without any prior warnings. For instance, an attack near Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut killed 18 without notice, and multiple fatalities were reported in Ain el-Delb without any evacuation orders.
“Evacuation orders should target legitimate military objectives, but it’s unclear if any targets are legitimate right now,” Houry added, criticizing Israel’s approach to international law.
Despite the dangers, some residents, like Hassan Dbouk, head of the Union of Tyre Municipalities, have chosen to remain. He continues to coordinate humanitarian aid for those left in the city, despite receiving multiple evacuation calls from Israeli officers.
Dbouk shared a parable from the Qur’an and the Torah about King Solomon halting his army to protect a valley of ants. “Why doesn’t Israel do the same?” he questioned, highlighting the disconnect between military actions and humanitarian concerns.