More than 30,000 civilians displaced in Lebanon as war continues

With Lebanon being dragged into yet another violent war by the unpopular Hezbollah, civilians are once again paying the price. Israel is battering the southern end of the country, and the Muslim-populated areas of the capital, Beirut, and more than 30,000 civilians have been displaced from their homes.

Israel has also begun to move more troops to Lebanon’s southern border – a move that the UN called a violation of the (now long broken) 2024 ceasefire when Israel did it initially in December 2025. Disarming Hezbollah has long been a priority of both the Lebanese government and the Israeli government. The militant group operates outside of the control of the Lebanese government and receives the vast majority of its funding from Iran.

In Lebanon, more than 90 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in just 48 hours of bombing. With the vast majority of fatalities coming in Beirut’s southern districts, Israel claims to be targeting Hezbollah commanders.

The southern districts of Beirut are predominantly Muslim, while the eastern coastal districts are more affluent and demographically Christian. Israel has instructed more than 80 villages scattered throughout Southern Lebanon to evacuate as well, with Israel claiming it is gearing up for an ‘open war’.

UN’s refugee agency said on March 3 that more than 30,000 Lebanese civilians had gathered in collective shelters across the country, with thousands more staying in their cars overnight.

The Lebanese government confirmed that, along with the 52 killed on March 2 and the 40 killed on March 3, more than 240 people had been wounded by Israeli military operations. Israeli troops have also gathered at Lebanon’s southern border, with journalists and civilians reporting IDF personnel moving in and out of Lebanon. According to sources in Lebanon, Israeli troops have been entering Lebanon, going on ‘forays’ and returning to Israel.

Israeli spokesman Avichay Adraee claimed the troops were entering Lebanon in order to bolster Israel’s ‘forward defence’ systems and create an extra layer of security. Israel’s infamous tactic of ‘forward defence’ involves making military action in preparation for a potential threat.

The Lebanese military confirmed that Israeli troops were entering through the southern border of the country, and said the Lebanese army was “repositioning” in the area. The military official remained anonymous, but the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, confirmed that Israeli troops are entering Lebanon. Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed that Israel had killed 397 people after the ceasefire took effect, and before February 28.

Since March 1, thousands of Syrians have fled Lebanon back into Syria. Many of the Syrians fleeing Lebanon initially fled Syria, and are now being forced back into the country for fear of safety.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) confirmed that the number of people crossing from Lebanon into Syria jumped on March 2. Normally, fewer than 5,000 people cross the Lebanese-Syrian border into Syria. On March 2, more than 10,000 people entered Syria from Lebanon. Satellite imagery showed hundreds of cars filling the streets at major border crossings.

Hezbollah has claimed that it has no choice but to fight Israel, calling Netanyahu’s government a ‘Zionist enemy’. Israel, on its part, has never had problems bombing Lebanon, and reacted within an hour to the first salvo of rockets sent by Hezbollah. Israel has since damaged Hezbollah-controlled TV broadcast stations and radio broadcasters.

Israel also struck Beirut’s southern suburbs, claiming it had attacked a Hezbollah command centre. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United States, France and Egypt on Tuesday that Hezbollah has been firing rockets from areas north of the Litani River. Lebanon has been attempting to disarm Hezbollah since the 2024 ceasefire agreement.