Hundreds of residents fled the Christian quarter of Tyre in southern Lebanon after an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday killed eight people and wounded at least 32, according to Lebanese officials.

🔴 Israel reportedly conducts airstrikes in the area of Tyre in southern Lebanon pic.twitter.com/hx18CLAluW

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Additional footage from Tyre, southern Lebanon, following an IDF strike. pic.twitter.com/8w1467NrUQ

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The evacuation came after Israel issued warnings ordering residents to leave parts of the city, including the historic Christian quarter and nearby Palestinian refugee camps, saying Hezbollah members had infiltrated the area and could launch attacks. 

“As we warned in recent days, following Hezbollah operatives’ activities within the city’s Christian quarter, the IDF will be compelled to act against their terror activities in the neighborhood in the near term,” Israeli military spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee said.

“Your presence near Hezbollah operatives, facilities or weapons puts your lives at risk. Any building used by Hezbollah for military purposes may be subject to targeting,” he added

Following the announcement, large numbers of civilians rushed to evacuate. Streets in the coastal city became heavily congested as cars loaded with mattresses, luggage, and household belongings attempted to leave the area.

Tyre, following evacuation notice by the IDF. pic.twitter.com/IY0XGW2q2F

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The Christian quarter, which had previously been spared direct strikes, had been regarded by many as a relative refuge during months of intermittent bombardment. Some displaced residents from other parts of Tyre had also relocated there in search of safety.

Local reports said the Lebanese army had been deployed to the district in recent days as displaced civilians arrived, aiming to help manage the influx and deter further escalation.

Meanwhile, Christian religious leaders in Tyre urged international intervention, warning that continued strikes and evacuation orders were forcing civilians out of historic neighborhoods.

“The old city is not merely a residential area,” the clergy said. “It is the historical and human heart of Tyre, home to thousands of civilians, including families, children and the elderly.” They added that attacking the neighbourhood would constitute a humanitarian “catastrophe”.

The attacks in Tyre came one day after President Donald Trump pressed Israel and Iran to de-escalate as he seeks to finalize what he described as a long-anticipated peace deal with Iran. 

Following his appeal, Israel and Iran paused direct strikes against each other, but Israeli forces resumed operations in Lebanon less than a day later.

In a separate development, Hezbollah on Tuesday said it carried out attacks on Israeli soldiers in the southern Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras.