Earlier today, Israel issued a total evacuation order for the entire Lebanese city of Baalbek, a major eastern city and metro area with a population of over 200,000. Baalbek is a very ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to many historic ruins, which are included in the evacuation orders.
It is impossible for an ancient, densely populated city to evacuate its entire population in a couple of hours. Nevertheless, Israel began attacking targets across the city shortly after the evacuation order was issued. As the population began scrambling from the city, it witnessed airstrikes along the same roads designated as exit routes.
Early indications from the Baalbek governor are that the attack is much more intense than initially thought. A state of panic is reported among the remaining population still trying to figure out how to escape with little notice.
Death tolls are far from being finalized, but an early report from the Lebanon Health Ministry is that 19 people were killed, eight of them women, so far in the attacks.
Several videos show strikes on diesel fuel tanks, causing major explosions, but it’s not clear what is actually being targeted. Further reports indicate residential areas have also been hit, which is par for the course in the current Israeli air war.
Eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, where Baalbek is located, has been the subject of many recent Israeli airstrikes, and large numbers of civilians have been killed or wounded. While eastern Lebanon has a substantial Hezbollah presence, there’s little sign the airstrikes are targeting Hezbollah specifically, and many indications they’re hitting many unrelated targets.
The international community has grown increasingly critical of Israel for targeting civilians and UN peacekeepers. Though Israel maintains it scrupulously limits collateral damage, the evidence is that it is killing a disproportionate number of civilians.
