Israel Orders Evacuations in South Lebanon Ahead of Strikes
Jerusalem— The Israeli military on Saturday ordered residents of nine villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately ahead of planned operations against Hezbollah, despite an existing ceasefire aimed at halting cross-border hostilities.
Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said the evacuation order was issued in response to what Israel described as repeated Hezbollah violations of the truce agreement that took effect in mid-April.“In light of the terrorist Hezbollah’s violation of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is compelled to act against it forcefully,” Adraee said in a statement posted on X.Residents were instructed to leave their homes and move at least 1,000 meters away from the affected villages into open areas for their safety, the statement said.
The warning came as fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group continued to intensify across southern Lebanon, with both sides exchanging fire almost daily despite the ceasefire arrangement.Earlier Saturday, the Israeli military said it had targeted more than 85 Hezbollah infrastructure sites over the previous 24 hours through aerial and ground operations.
According to the military, the strikes hit weapons storage facilities, missile launchers and structures allegedly used by Hezbollah to conduct attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.Israel also said it struck an underground Hezbollah weapons production facility in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley and targeted militants accused of conducting operations against Israeli troops deployed in southern Lebanon.
On Friday, Hezbollah announced missile and drone attacks against Israeli military bases in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and continued attacks in southern Lebanon.Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes killed 11 people in southern Lebanon on Friday.
The latest escalation underscores the fragility of the ceasefire reached earlier this year after months of cross-border clashes that expanded alongside the broader regional conflict involving Israel, Iran and allied armed groups.
Israel and Lebanon remain formally at war, although indirect diplomatic efforts backed by international mediators have sought to prevent wider regional escalation.
