Tel Aviv, Israel – The Israeli military on Wednesday ordered the immediate evacuation of large areas in southern Lebanon, urging residents to move north of the Litani River, on the third day of escalating fighting with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group. This action is part of a series of Israeli attacks launched in response to Hezbollah’s firing of rockets and drones into Israeli territory.
Mass displacement and emergency measures
The United Nations reported that some 60,000 people have been displaced by the fighting. Lebanese authorities added that the total number of displaced people since the start of the war has reached tens of thousands. This has further strained government facilities and basic services. The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that 50 people have been killed and 246 others wounded since Monday. Among the victims were civilians in Baalbek and Hazmieh.
Deployment of Lebanese and Israeli forces
The Lebanese army confirmed the redeployment of its units along the border to monitor Israeli incursions. Meanwhile, the Israeli army entered at least nine towns in southern Lebanon and launched raids on multiple locations. The Israeli army targeted more than 250 Hezbollah sites within 48 hours. Israel stressed the need for residents to evacuate immediately for their safety. However, Israel maintained forces in strategic positions to prevent any attacks on northern settlements.
Hezbollah attacks and reactions
Hezbollah responded with several attacks, including the firing of a precision-guided missile at a military facility in northern Israel. They also launched a drone at a base 120 kilometers from the Lebanese border. Rocket fire from Lebanon triggered sirens in Tel Aviv. No casualties have been reported in Israel so far. The conflict in Lebanon continues following a US-Israeli attack on Iran that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This attack has sparked a wave of escalation in the region.
