Israel Orders Evacuation of Tyre Christian Quarter, Strikes Follow, Then Says Residents Can Return

Israel's military ordered the evacuation of Tyre's Christian quarter on or around June 10 and then struck the district, prompting residents including Darine Al Jouny Safadi and her family to flee for the second time since the April 2026 ceasefire. Safadi, 38, had returned to her home in the quarter with her children Salma, 13, and Eliya, and her father Youssef Al Jouny after the April ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Roughly three weeks later the family left again amid Israeli bombardment.

On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that residents of the Christian neighborhood could return home. Several residents told Reuters on June 11 they did not feel safe returning. Lebanon was drawn into wider conflict on March 2, 2026, when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel.

U.S. declared a ceasefire on April 16, 2026. Lebanon says Israel has carried out nearly 3,500 strikes since then. Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elias Kfoury, who has served in the Tyre region for more than 30 years, said the current round of fighting is the hardest he has seen.

"This is the hardest round," Kfoury told Reuters. " Kfoury estimates Israeli military actions have caused more than $100 million in damage to places of worship in south Lebanon. The St. George Melkite Catholic Church in south Lebanon was previously hit by an Israeli strike and remains in ruins.

"Israel is trying to erase the memory of the country," Kfoury said. " Israel's military stated it is acting solely against Hezbollah military targets in accordance with international law. "The IDF rejects any claim of intentional harm to civilians, places of worship, or heritage sites in southern Lebanon," it said.