"The Israel Defense Forces continue to operate and strike the military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist organisation Hezbollah across various areas of the southern suburbs," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X.

"The IDF does not intend to harm you and is acting only against Hezbollah operatives and military targets. Therefore, for your safety, you must evacuate immediately."

An AFP correspondent later saw people flee the area.

The warning came a day after Israel carried out its largest wave of strikes since the start of its war with Hezbollah on March 2, killing more than 200 people.

While Israel regularly issues evacuation warnings before bombing Beirut's southern suburbs, Thursday's announcement also included the outskirts of Lebanon's only international airport.

The World Health Organization (WHO) called Thursday on Israel to cancel the evacuation order it issued for the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital, Beirut, where there are two hospitals.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Jnah district included the Rafik Hariri University Hospital and Al Zahraa Hospital, with some 450 patients, of whom 450 were in intensive care.

"I urge Israel to reverse this order and ensure the protection of all health facilities, health workers, patients and civilians," he added.

Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamni said, in a statement carried by the state-run National News Agency, that he "received assurances from foreign diplomatic sources and relevant authorities" regarding the airport.

The road to the airport and the airport itself would be spared of any Israeli attacks "as long as their use is limited to transporting passengers and goods and civilian activities to and from the airport", he said.

Local television channel NBN, affiliated with the Hezbollah-allied Amal movement, said it would halt its programming after the warning and evacuated the building.