BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 5 (UPI) -- The Israeli Army on Thursday ordered a mass evacuation of Beirut's southern suburbs -- a main stronghold of Iran-backed Hezbollah -- in an unprecedented warning ahead of massive strikes, causing widespread panic among fleeing residents and heavy traffic jams in the capital.
Army Arabic spokesman Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee issued the warning for entire densely populated neighborhoods in the southern suburbs -- citing Bourj al-Barajneh, Hadath, Haret Hreik and Chiyah -- and calling on their residents to immediately leave their homes ahead of potential strikes to save their lives.
Adraee designated where fleeing people should go, saying the inhabitants of Burj al-Barajneh and Hadath should move east toward Mount Lebanon, while residents of Haret Hreik and Chiyah were instructed to head north.
The panicked residents immediately started to flee in their cars, causing heavy traffic with many roads and main intersections in Beirut totally blocked.
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