BEIRUT, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The United Nations said on Tuesday that at least 30,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon as a result of Israeli airstrikes and shelling across several areas, particularly in the country’s south, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch reported large-scale displacement in multiple parts of southern Lebanon, the Bekaa region, and Beirut’s southern suburbs after Israeli forces issued evacuation warnings to residents of more than 53 Lebanese villages and carried out intensive air raids in those areas.
As of Monday, an estimated 30,000 people had been registered and sheltered in collective accommodation centers, Baloch said, adding that many more spent the night in their cars along roadsides.
Samer Abdeljaber, the World Food Program’s regional director, told reporters in Cairo that the number of displaced people is expected to rise significantly. He noted that the Lebanese government began opening shelters on Monday, prompting the WFP to distribute hot meals and ready-to-eat food to support those displaced.
The Israeli military has been carrying out a heavy bombardment campaign in Lebanon since Monday, saying it is targeting Hezbollah in response to attacks launched into Israeli territory. According to official figures released Monday, 52 people were killed.
Earlier, Hezbollah announced that it had launched a wave of “precision missiles and a swarm of drones” toward Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and in response to Israeli ceasefire violations.
Abdeljaber also expressed concern about the impact of the conflict on maritime and air transport, warning that disruptions would have direct consequences for humanitarian operations, including supply chains and the movement of aid personnel.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Tuesday he was “deeply shocked” by the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on civilians, amid widespread fear and panic across the region. He urged all parties to “come to their senses and put an end to the violence.”
His spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, told reporters in Geneva that the fear and anxiety felt by millions in the Middle East and beyond were clearly visible and entirely avoidable. She warned that the situation was deteriorating by the hour and that “our worst fears are being realized.”
Türk expressed deep concern over the impact of large-scale hostilities on civilians and civilian infrastructure since the conflict escalated on Saturday with Israeli and US strikes on Iran, Iran’s retaliatory attacks on countries in the region, and Hezbollah’s subsequent involvement.
Shamdasani stressed that the laws of war are clear and that civilians and civilian objects are protected. She called on all states and armed groups to comply with international humanitarian law.
Türk urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, prevent further escalation, and take all possible measures to protect civilians, including foreign nationals, as well as critical infrastructure. He emphasized that returning to negotiations is the only way to halt the killing, destruction, and despair.
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah was reached in late November 2024 after a year-long war. Under the deal, Israel was expected to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, but it has maintained positions in five locations it considers strategic and has continued to conduct regular strikes in Lebanon, often saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites or operatives.
Beirut has pledged to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River near the Israeli border, under significant US pressure and amid fears of further Israeli strikes.
On Tuesday evening, Hezbollah announced military operations in southern Lebanon, including the downing of an Israeli drone and the targeting of two Merkava tanks.
In separate statements, the group said it shot down an Israeli drone over Nabatieh around 12:30 p.m. using appropriate weapons, and later targeted a Merkava tank at the Sammaqah site in the occupied Kfar Shouba Hills, claiming a direct hit. It also said it struck another Merkava tank in Tal Nahas near the outskirts of Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon, again reporting a direct hit.
These developments follow the launch of Israeli and US military operations against Iran since Saturday morning, which have resulted in hundreds of deaths, including senior security officials and Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Tehran has responded by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and carrying out attacks on what it described as US bases and sites in regional countries.
The escalation comes despite reported progress in negotiations between Iran and the United States, according to Omani mediators. Observers note that this marks the second time negotiations have collapsed, following a previous breakdown that preceded the June 2025 war.
