Lebanese PM feels up to a million may be displaced by Israel attacks
Families carry their belongings in Beirut's Martyrs' square after fleeing the Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Dahiyeh on Sunday. AP
Mikati told reports that “the estimated number is very high and may reach one million” — which would amount to roughly a sixth of Lebanon’s population.
“It is the largest displacement movement that may have happened... in Lebanon,” he said.
Earlier Mikati also urged Lebanese "to come together" to preserve civil order. "Our national responsibility at this historic and exceptional moment requires setting aside political differences," he said, after cutting short a New York visit to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Lebanon's army on Sunday warned Lebanese against actions that would disturb public order in the crisis-hit country after Israel's killing of Nasrallah.
"The Israeli enemy is working to implement its destructive plans and sow division among Lebanese," the army statement added.
A Lebanese army official told AFP troops had been deployed since Saturday in Beirut, where thousands have sought refuge from intense Israeli raids on Lebanon's south, east and Hezbollah's south Beirut bastion.
On Friday, Israel killed Hizbollah’s powerful leader Hassan Nasrallah in a move many fear risks destabilising Lebanon and the wider region.
Lebanon’s health ministry on Sunday said Israeli strikes killed nearly 50 more people, after Israel’s military said it kept up its bombardment of Hizbollah targets there and also struck Yemen.
Since Monday, intense Israeli attacks across Lebanon’s east, south and on southern Beirut have killed hundreds of people and forced many to flee their homes.
Earlier this week, UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said “well over 200,000 people are displaced inside Lebanon” and more than 50,000 had fled to neighbouring Syria.
On Sunday, the US military said it was increasing its air support capabilities in the Middle East and putting troops on a heightened readiness to deploy to the region as it warned Iran against expanding the ongoing conflict.
The announcement came two days after President Joe Biden directed the Pentagon to adjust US force posture in the Middle East amid intensifying concern that Israel’s killing of the leader of Hizbollah could prompt Tehran to retaliate.
“The United States is determined to prevent Iran and Iranian-backed partners and proxies from exploiting the situation or expanding the conflict,” Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder said in a statement.
He also cautioned that if Iran or groups Tehran backs “use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every necessary measure to defend our people.”
The Pentagon statement offered few clues as to the size or scope of the new air deployment, saying only that “we will further reinforce our defensive air-support capabilities in the coming days.”
Agencies
