UN warns situation in Lebanon ‘deteriorating’ as Israel orders Tyre evacuation

The United Nations warned Tuesday that an Israeli displacement order for Lebanon’s port city of Tyre will affect nearly 44,000 people, as peacekeepers recorded dozens of airspace violations and hundreds of firing incidents across southern Lebanon. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said: “The displacement order issued by Israel today for the entire city of Tyre, including all neighbourhoods and Palestinian refugee camps, will affect nearly 44,000 people, many who were already displaced.”

Military escalation

UNIFIL peacekeepers observed intensive ground and air activities by Israeli forces, including armoured movements, large‑scale engineering and demolition works, sustained logistical traffic, and airstrikes. UNIFIL detected 48 violations of Lebanese airspace by Israel and nine airstrikes, as well as a separate incident of sustained machine‑gun fire from an IDF helicopter, during which approximately 100 rounds were fired toward Bint Jubayl. Total overflight time reached about 85 hours. Peacekeepers also reported 446 trajectories fired from Israeli positions both south of the Blue Line and within the mission’s area of operations.

Humanitarian toll

Israeli attacks have continued despite a fragile ceasefire that took effect on April 17 and was later extended until early July. More than 3,660 people have been killed and over 11,300 injured since Israel expanded its campaign on March 2, while over 1 million have been displaced, according to Lebanese authorities. For Türkiye, which has offered humanitarian assistance to Lebanon and called for an immediate ceasefire, the evacuation of Tyre represents a new escalation. Ankara has also urged the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.