The president of the Lebanese University (LU), Bassam Badran, announced in a statement "the closure of the university’s branches in Saida, Nabatieh and Sour on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024," according to a press release.

He said this decision was made in accordance with the leeway granted by caretaker Education and Higher Education Minister Abbas Halabi, "who gave the directors of schools, institutes and public universities the freedom to assess the security situation regarding the opening or closing of institutions and to ensure the safety of students, teachers and staff."

Halabi also announced in a statement on Sunday that classes would continue as usual on Monday in public and private schools, technical institutes, and universities.

Badran noted that the LU will make further decisions based on the evolving situation.

Clashes between Hezbollah and Israel, ongoing since Oct. 8, 2023, have escalated in recent days following the explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies used by the party on Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as the air raid on Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday, which killed senior members of its elite unit.