City Centre Mall evacuated after Israel threatens nearby building

BEIRUT — Dozens of people were seen panicking in City Centre Mall in Hazmieh and filing down the escalators and out of the building in a video circulating online on Friday. The Israeli army had just issued an evacuation warning to several buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut, one of which was about 600 meters away in Hadath.

In the video, mall staff used the building's intercom system to urge citizens to leave the mall for their own safety.

Videos posted on social media showed Lebanese Army tanks blocking the road leading to the mall to stop civilians from driving past or reaching the threatened area. 

Some employees at the mall were unable to evacuate due to the barriers and security measures put in place by the army. They gathered instead on the far side of the building, facing north, away from where the Israeli army had said it would attack, in order to wait somewhere safer until the strike had taken place.

At 4:30 p.m., the Israeli army told the residents of three buildings in Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Ghobeiri in the southern suburbs of Beirut to evacuate immediately. The first airstrike was heard just under one hour later.

In a warning issued on his X account, Israeli army Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned residents of buildings marked on a map he posted that they “are located near Hezbollah facilities and interests, against which the [Israeli army] will operate in the near future.”

“For your safety and the safety of your family members, you must evacuate these buildings and those adjacent to them immediately and stay away from them for a distance of no less than 500 meters,” Adraee wrote.