Nearly a million people may have been displaced by Israeli strikes in Lebanon, in the largest population movement in the country’s history, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said at a press conference today.

“The number is very significant and could reach one million people,” which would be equivalent to one-sixth of Lebanon’s total population and “could be the largest population movement in Lebanon’s history,” he said.

Mikati also said his country had “no other option but the diplomatic option,” when asked about diplomatic efforts to end Israel’s escalation against Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group.

Hezbollah opened a front against Israel with the start of the Gaza war, which broke out after Hamas attacked Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, in support of the Palestinian organization Hamas, without however starting an all-out war.

But Israel launched a massive bombing campaign a week ago on Hezbollah strongholds in the south and east of the country, as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut, killing at least 700 people, according to the health ministry.

The bombing also displaced nearly 120,000 people, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Large numbers of displaced people have taken refuge in Beirut, in precarious conditions, and some fear the mass movements threaten the delicate balance between Lebanon’s Sunni, Christian, Shiite and Druze communities.