The Israeli army ordered the evacuation of 29 villages north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon on Sunday, ahead of what it described as imminent strikes against Hezbollah positions.
Nabatieh, Lebanon © Mena Today
The Israeli army ordered the evacuation of 29 villages north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon on Sunday, ahead of what it described as imminent strikes against Hezbollah positions.
The order, issued by IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee in two successive messages, covers a wide geographic area, sixteen of the villages are located deep inside Lebanese territory, more than 30 to 40 kilometres from the Israeli border, in the Sidon district. The remaining villages are situated in the Nabatieh district.
"In light of ceasefire violations committed by the terrorist organisation Hezbollah, the Israeli army is compelled to act forcefully against it," the IDF stated, framing the operation as a direct response to ongoing Hezbollah breaches of the fragile truce.
The scale of the evacuation order, reaching villages as far as the Sidon district, marks a significant expansion of Israel's operational footprint in Lebanon and signals that the IDF is prepared to strike well beyond its previous areas of operation in the south.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef (Joe) Rajji delivered one of the most candid assessments of his country's situation in years, speaking Saturday to the French daily Le Figaro, making clear that Hezbollah is strategically finished and that Lebanon will not allow Iran to negotiate on its behalf.
Lebanon's Maronite bishops have thrown their full support behind the Lebanese state and its ongoing direct negotiations with Israel, calling on all Lebanese to unite around their national institutions and army.
The central mistake of every weak agreement with Tehran is the same: it assumes that the Islamic Republic can be persuaded to behave like a normal state.
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