Thousands evacuate Lebanon's ancient city of Baalbek after Israeli threats

Residents of Baalbek rushed out of their homes on Wednesday after the Israeli army ordered Lebanon's main eastern city and its outskirts evacuated for the first time in more than a month of war.

The Israeli army issued threats to attack the historic city of Baalbek and its surrounding towns and villages, saying it was preparing attacks on alleged Hezbollah targets.

"The (Israeli army) will act forcefully against Hezbollah interests within your city and villages," military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X.

The post included a map of the entire city in the eastern Bekaa Valley and its outskirts — an area historically significant as a hub of ancient Roman architecture, featuring the grand Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek. The area is also home to Lebanon's Shia Muslim community as well as smaller communities of Sunnis and Christians.

Civil defence vehicles drove around the city urging everyone to leave immediately over loudspeaker.

An hour after the Israeli threats, the main roads out of the city were jammed with vehicles as civilians fled in panic, according to local media reports.

Official sources told The New Arab's Arabic language edition,  Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that most shelters in northern Lebanon had reached their maximum capacity, while more people were expected to flee north from Baalbeck.

The source also noted that "the areas targeted by Israeli threats are densely populated, with ongoing calls for residents to evacuate. Security and official agencies are on high alert, coordinating with medical teams to aid and ensure safe passage for people."

Baalbek municipal council chairman Mustafa el-Chall voiced concern over the city's ancient heritage and UNESCO World Heritage site in comments to Sky News Arabia.

"We fear that the temples of Baalbeck and the rest of the city's heritage will be targeted" by Israeli bombing, he told the outlet.

Israel has destroyed some 200 historical and heritage sites in its war on Gaza, including ancient mosques, harbours and one of the oldest Christian monasteries, in what some have described as a "cultural genocide".

On Monday, Lebanon's health ministry said at least 60 people were killed in Israeli raids on the Bekaa, most of them in the Baalbek region.

The war has killed at least 1,754 people in Lebanon since 23 September, according to health ministry figures, though the real number is likely to be higher due to gaps in the data.