Israeli airstrikes on the Lebanese city of Tyre killed eight people and injured at least 32 others on Tuesday morning, according to local authorities. The attacks targeted the al-Masaken neighbourhood without warning, sending plumes of smoke above the city and igniting fires. Further strikes hit across Tyre and the nearby village of Abbasieh.
Evacuation Orders and Displacement
For the first time, Israel issued forced evacuation orders for the historic Christian quarter of Tyre, as well as for Palestinian refugee camps in the city, claiming Hezbollah members had infiltrated the area. Hundreds of residents fled, packing cars with belongings and jamming the narrow streets of the port neighbourhood. The Christian quarter had previously been considered a safe zone amid the broader bombardment.
Many Shia Muslim residents had moved there seeking safety. Last week, the Lebanese army deployed to the district to demonstrate that Hezbollah had no armed presence, hoping to prevent Israeli attacks. The city has also hosted thousands displaced from southern Lebanon, with many now facing their second or third displacement.
Hezbollah Claims and Israeli Response
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacks on Israeli soldiers in the Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras. The Israeli army reported killing a "terrorist" who crossed the border from Lebanon and opened fire on soldiers, marking the first such incident in this round of fighting. It remains unclear if the gunman was affiliated with Hezbollah.
Damage to Archaeological Sites
Tyre, one of the world's oldest cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site, has suffered damage to its archaeological treasures. Sunday's airstrikes hit near the Roman hippodrome, damaging columns, capitals, and mosaics. Ali Badawi, a regional director of archaeological sites at Lebanon's ministry of culture, confirmed that artefacts were damaged by falling rubble. Enhanced protection blue-shield emblems, placed under The Hague convention, failed to prevent the damage. Israel has also damaged the 1,000-year-old Beaufort castle and other historical buildings in southern Lebanon.
Christian Leaders Appeal for Protection
Christian religious leaders from three denominations in Tyre called on the international community and Lebanese state to prevent attacks on the quarter. They described the old city as the "historical and human heart of Tyre," home to thousands of civilians, and warned that an attack would be a humanitarian catastrophe.
Broader Conflict Context
The current fighting began on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering an Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon. Israeli strikes have killed at least 3,666 people in Lebanon, while Hezbollah has killed 30 Israeli soldiers and three civilians. Negotiations between the Lebanese government and Israel are ongoing in Washington, though Hezbollah is not participating and rejected a recent ceasefire proposal.
The war in Lebanon is a key obstacle to Iran-US ceasefire talks, as Iran insists on a comprehensive ceasefire including Lebanon. The US and Israel have rejected linking the fronts, though President Donald Trump has reportedly grown frustrated with Israel's campaign as it complicates talks with Iran.
