Thousands flee Lebanese city under renewed escalation and threat of Israeli strikes

(9 Jun 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Tyre, Lebanon - 9 June 2026 1. Various of cars with luggage, traffic as people leave Tyre ASSOCIATED PRESS Beirut - 9 June 2026 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Malak Harb, The Associated Press: "Thousands of people fled the southern Lebanese city of Tyre today after the Israeli military issued a warning for residents to leave large parts of the city ahead of planned strikes. The warning sparked heavy traffic along the coastal highway as families quickly loaded cars uncertain of where they would spend the night as they searched for safety away from the threatened areas." ASSOCIATED PRESS Tyre, Lebanon - 9 June 2026 3. Various of cars with luggage, traffic as people leave Tyre ASSOCIATED PRESS Beirut, Lebanon - 9 June 2026 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Malak Harb, The Associated Press: "The latest warning comes amid a renewed escalation in the region. On Monday, Israel and Iran exchanged fire for the first time since an April ceasefire. The exchange followed an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs a day earlier. Iran, that backs Hezbollah and that has demanded Lebanon to be part of a possible deal with the U.S, responded to the Israeli attack near Beirut, launching missiles towards Israel. Later on Monday, both Iran and Israel said they were halting the fighting, however tensions remain high. The warning for Tyre is one of the broadest issued for the city in recent months and comes as fears grow that the fighting could intensify even more. Meanwhile, authorities said at least 12 people were killed in southern Lebanon on Monday. Israeli strikes and clashes between its army and Hezbollah have continued in southern Lebanon despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to stop the war." ASSOCIATED PRESS Kfar Tebnit, Lebanon - 8 June 2026 5. Various of smoke rising from the location of an Israeli strike on Kfar Tebnit STORYLINE: Cars packed with mattresses, luggage and household belongings stretched for miles along Lebanon's coastal highway as residents fled the southern city of Tyre following a latest Israeli warning. Traffic ground to a halt as families crammed whatever they could into vehicles, with carpets protruding from rooftops and trunks left partially open to accommodate furniture and personal belongings. The Israeli military issued a warning for the port city, including the Christian quarter, which has been spared so far. Christian religious leaders from Tyre called on the international community and Lebanese officials on Tuesday to act quickly to prevent Israel from attacking the Christian district of the city, as airstrikes on nearby neighborhoods killed eight people and wounded dozens of others. The three Christian leaders called on the international community and Lebanese leaders to “take immediate and serious action to spare the old quarter of Tyre from destruction and human tragedies.” The Israeli warning to Tyre came after Israel and Iran traded fire following Israel's targeting of Hezbollah in Beirut on Sunday, triggering heightened tensions in the Middle East and fears that the conflict could spread further. Over the past few weeks, Israel’s airstrikes have caused wide destruction in Tyre, the fourth-largest city in the country. Considered one of the oldest metropolises of the world, Tyre has several archaeological sites, some of them submerged. The city was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Last week, Israel warned the Christian neighborhoods in Tyre that Hezbollah members were among them. AP Video by Malak Harb Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...