The Israeli army on Tuesday expanded evacuation threats in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre to include its historic Christian quarter, an area that had largely been spared previous warnings and had become a refuge for civilians displaced from elsewhere in the south.
The district, located on Tyre's seafront and known for its churches, hotels, restaurants and longstanding Christian community, is home to more than 1,200 residents from various religious denominations and has become a refuge for families fleeing Israeli attacks elsewhere in southern Lebanon.
As residents rushed to leave the area, concerns grew over the potential impact on one of Lebanon's oldest and most diverse cities.
Roqayah Chamseddine, a Lebanese journalist based in the south, told The New Arab that the current situation in Tyre and surrounding areas could only be described as "terror" and that the Christian quarter was a sanctuary for people fleeing Israeli attacks elsewhere.
"Israel has once again violently shattered this sanctuary, forcing an immediate exodus of residents to flee north of the Zahrani River under the imminent threat of catastrophic aerial bombardment, with no time to prepare themselves or their families," she added, noting that Israeli warplanes were striking Tyre at the time.
Several nearby towns and Palestinian refugee camps were also issued evacuation orders, including Shabariha, Hamadiyeh, Jal al Bahr, Zaquq al Blat, Al Bas, Al Maashouq, Burj Shemali, Rashidiyeh and Ain Baal.
Without providing any evidence, the Israeli military claimed Hezbollah was "operating" from the area, which is 26 kilometres (16 miles) from the southern border, where the group had been launching attacks against occupying forces.
Chamseddine said Israel had repeatedly used baseless allegations of targeting Hezbollah to expand attacks across Lebanon .
"This is just another fabricated pretext designed to manufacture a blanket license for the total destruction of our land," she said. "This is Israel's attempt to absolve itself of war crimes while simultaneously executing a psychological operation to stoke sectarian resentment; a deliberate attempt to fracture Lebanon’s internal unity by provoking the Christian population into blaming [Hezbollah and its support base] for Israeli attacks."
The evacuation threat has alarmed activists and researchers, who fear it could have lasting consequences for the Christian community and the city's historic identity.
In a joint appeal issued on Tuesday, Tyre's senior Christian clerics called on President Joseph Aoun , Prime Minister Nawaf Salam , Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the international community, the United Nations and humanitarian organisations to protect civilians and prevent the destruction of the city's historic old quarter.
Speaking at a press conference following Israeli threats, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Elias Al-Kfoury, Greek Catholic Metropolitan George Iskandar and Maronite Archbishop Charbel Abdullah warned of the risks facing the Christian quarter.
The church leaders also called for a ceasefire on all fronts, warning of the humanitarian consequences of the ongoing escalation.
Cilina Nasser, a Beirut-based independent researcher and human rights expert, told The New Arab that the Christian quarter, including parts of the historic Al-Hara district highlighted by church leaders, holds particular significance as part of Tyre's centuries-old social fabric.
"Residents of Tyre were among the first to embrace Christianity, with a Christian presence dating back to the first century, biblical times," she said.
Nasser described Tyre as a rare example of coexistence in Lebanon, where residents from different backgrounds continue to share public spaces.
"In the summer, it is common to see women on the public beach in Tyre swimming in a variety of attire, ranging from burkinis to bikinis," she said, adding that no one felt out of place regardless of their background.
"The evacuation order of Tyre is scary, because we have seen what happened to other towns and villages after people are forced to leave; their villages and towns got obliterated, making their return difficult," she said.
"Many Christians in Lebanon have emigrated since the massive financial crisis of 2019, and the concern is that if the Christian Quarter is heavily impacted, it may threaten the Christian presence in Tyre," she continued.
Chamseddine echoed those concerns, warning that heritage sites and places of worship could also be vulnerable to Israeli bombardment.
"This escalation will undoubtedly inflict profound trauma on our local Christian population, which has already been impacted across the south," she said.
Concerns over cultural and religious sites have grown during Israel's indiscriminate bombardment across Lebanon.
Last month, after a series of Israeli attacks damaged churches in Lebanon, the Council of Melkite Greek Catholic Bishops in Lebanon issued a statement saying: "Churches, schools and homes are not just stones. To attack these places is to strike human dignity itself."
The council called on the Lebanese government, the United Nations and the international community to protect civilians and religious institutions.
"The southern Lebanese city of Tyre is facing an existential threat from Israeli attacks, all of which is impacting the city's deeply rooted, pluralistic identity," Chamseddine said.
Despite the latest escalation, she said residents remained determined to return.
"Israel is attempting to fragment and depopulate the south, but the historical and cultural fabric of Tyre is preserved in the shared determination of its people to survive and return," she added.
The latest developments come as Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon killed at least five people on Tuesday, including a 16-year-old boy who was killed in a drone strike outside his home in Haboush.
Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,637 people since 2 March, when Hezbollah launched missiles into Israel following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli strikes.