The Jounieh highway seen from the cable car. (Credit: Philippe Hage Boutros/L’Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT — A wave of panic swept through the Kesrouan district after residents in Jounieh and Zouk Mikael received threatening calls about false Israeli evacuation calls. Local authorities described the incidents as “false alarms” intended to spread panic, while in Zouk Mosbeh, a rumor about a possible evacuation also stirred anxiety among residents.
In Jounieh, the municipality, in coordination with security authorities, established a security cordon covering an area of about 500 meters and evacuated the Holiday Suites hotel and nearby buildings after a Syrian worker received a threatening message claiming that an adjacent building would be struck by Israel within 10 minutes, according to a statement issued Tuesday.
“A person working in a building across from the Jounieh municipality received a recorded message on his phone from a foreign number ordering him to evacuate the building to a distance of at least 300 meters,” said Fady Fayad, director of communications at the municipality, when contacted by L’Orient-Le Jour.
“Everything has returned to normal in the city, and all facilities have reopened. It was a false alarm intended to sow panic among residents,” he added.
The municipality also reminded residents that it is “constantly verifying the identity of inhabitants on its territory” and asked property owners not to rent apartments, buildings, warehouses or other real estate units — temporarily or permanently — without contacting the municipality and obtaining prior approval.
In Adonis, a resident also received a threatening call, but it did not lead to an evacuation. Zouk Mikael municipal chief Elias Beaino said security forces intervened and determined it was a “false alarm,” without providing further details.
In Zouk Mosbeh, meanwhile, a rumor about evacuating a building sparked anxiety among residents, according to municipal chief Elie Saber.
“There was no call. But this kind of fake news causes chaos and fear among residents,” he said.
The incidents come as the Israeli army has repeatedly contacted residents in Lebanon during the war with Hezbollah ordering them to evacuate buildings before carrying out strikes.
