Nearly 1.2 Million Displaced in Lebanon as Fighting Intensifies, UN Official Says

Close to 1.2 million people in Lebanon—roughly one in five residents—have been displaced amid the escalating Israel-Hezbollah conflict, a top United Nations official said on April 8.

Imran Riza, the deputy special coordinator in Lebanon, estimated an “unprecedented” 1.2 million have been displaced since early March, adding that 1,530 people have been killed, including 130 children.

“It is a huge civilian tragedy,” Riza said. “There is absolutely no doubt about it.”

While the United States negotiated a two-week ceasefire with Iran, that agreement doesn’t include Lebanon, said officials.

“The Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon and it just didn’t,” said Vice President JD Vance, according to the White House rapid response on X. “We never made that promise. We never indicated that was going to be the case.”

The surge in displacement comes as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified in recent days, with Israeli airstrikes hitting populated areas in Lebanon. The United States has designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

Israel said it launched its largest attack against Hezbollah on Wednesday, sending missiles into commercial and residential areas in Beirut and killing 182 people, making it the deadliest day in the latest Israel–Hezbollah conflict.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed a major series of strikes on Lebanon on social media.

“In 10 minutes, the IDF completed the largest coordinated strike across Lebanon since the start of Operation Roaring Lion,” IDF posted on X. “The strike targeted 100+ Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays, and command-and-control centers in Beirut, Beqaa and southern Lebanon.”

The IDF said it targeted intelligence command centers used in planning terror attacks, as well as missile-launching infrastructure. It said it also hit Hezbollah’s “elite units”—the Radwan Force for special operations, and the aerial unit, which deploys drones.

The IDF commander responsible for overseeing the wave of attacks against Hezbollah said they won’t stop.

“We will continue striking the Hezbollah terror organization and will utilize every operational opportunity,” Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said on X. “We will not compromise the security of the residents of northern Israel. We will continue to strike with determination.”

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attacks by Israel and said he has spoken to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

“I expressed France’s full solidarity in the face of the indiscriminate strikes carried out by Israel in Lebanon today, which resulted in a very high number of civilian casualties,” Macron said on X. “We condemn these strikes in the strongest possible terms.”