IDF issues urgent warnings for 50 villages in the south and two Beirut suburbs, as Lebanon’s unprecedented ban on Hezbollah’s military activity fails to de-escalate cross-border fire.
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT – The Israeli military has dramatically expanded its campaign in Lebanon, issuing sweeping new evacuation orders for residents across 50 locations in the south and two neighborhoods in Beirut’s southern suburbs, signaling a major escalation following tit-for-tat attacks with Hezbollah.
In a series of urgent warnings posted on Telegram, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee called on civilians to flee immediately. “Urgent warning to the residents of Lebanon, specifically in the villages which names are shown. For your safety you must evacuate your homes immediately,” the statement read, listing dozens of communities in southern Lebanon, a traditional Hezbollah stronghold.
The military justified the orders by stating that these areas contain “Hezbollah facilities and interests,” against which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) “will operate in the near future.” Separate, more targeted warnings were issued for residents of the Ghobeiry and Haret Hreik neighborhoods in Beirut’s southern suburbs, telling them to stay away from specific buildings.
Lebanon Takes Unprecedented Step Against Hezbollah
The escalation comes amid a volatile political backdrop in Lebanon. In an unprecedented move on Monday, the Lebanese government moved to ban Hezbollah’s military and security activities—a decision that drew sharp criticism from the Iran-backed group, which holds significant sway in the government and parliament.
The Hezbollah response was swift. Early Monday, the group claimed responsibility for launching rockets and drones toward Israel, framing the attack as retribution for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in recent U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Heavy Toll on Civilians
Israel retaliated forcefully, bombarding Beirut’s southern suburbs and numerous villages across southern Lebanon. The Lebanese health ministry reported a devastating toll from Monday’s strikes, with at least 31 people killed and 149 wounded.
The Israeli military has vowed to make Hezbollah pay a “heavy price” for its cross-border fire, raising fears of an even broader and more destructive conflict. With the evacuation orders now covering a vast geographical area, concerns are mounting for hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians caught in the crossfire.
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