Israel demands evacuation of southern Lebanon villages amid strikes on Hezbollah targets
Israel has ordered residents of seven villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate ahead of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions, marking a significant escalation in hostilities.
The affected villages are located north of the Litani River, an area where Israeli troops maintain a presence despite a fragile ceasefire.
The Israeli air force has commenced bombardments on these towns and villages, with large plumes of smoke visible from northern Israel.
The evacuation orders effectively displace local populations as Israel aims to neutralize what it describes as immediate and emerging threats from Hezbollah.
Casualties have been reported in the strikes, with Lebanon's health ministry confirming seven deaths from Israeli attacks on Saturday, an increase from earlier reports.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also intercepted three drones detected near northern Israel, which were attributed to Hezbollah.
This escalation follows statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accused Hezbollah of dismantling the ceasefire through ongoing violations.
Netanyahu emphasized Israel's right to act vigorously to ensure the security of its soldiers and communities, citing arrangements agreed upon with the United States and Lebanon.
The ceasefire, initially established in mid-April and recently extended by three weeks, has been under strain with near-daily violations and military operations continuing.
The conflict intensified after Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel in early March, in response to the death of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.
Netanyahu's remarks underscored Israel's intention to not only respond to attacks but also to pre-empt and neutralize threats.
The Israeli military's recent actions, including the evacuation orders and airstrikes, reflect this stance.
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