The Israeli military has issued an evacuation order for all of the southern suburbs of Beirut, in an area called the Dahiyeh which it says is a Hezbollah stronghold.

There’s no definitive figure on how big the population is here but some estimates put it between 300,000 to 700,000.

It is believed to be the first time the Israeli military has ordered large swathes of the Lebanese capital to flee, when before they would force people out of specific buildings that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would then strike.

The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, said the latest order covers four major neighbourhoods in the southern suburbs of Beirut – Bourj el-Barajneh, Hadath, Haret Hreik and Shiyyah.

“Save your lives and evacuate your homes immediately,” he said in a message posted on social media.

“Beware, heading south is prohibited. Any southward movement could endanger your lives.