Israeli forces struck the southern Lebanese city of Tyre in the early hours of Thursday, hours after warning residents to evacuate and declaring all territory south of the Zahrani River, some 40 kilometres from the border, a "combat zone."
Tyre, Lebanon © Mena Today
Israeli forces struck the southern Lebanese city of Tyre in the early hours of Thursday, hours after warning residents to evacuate and declaring all territory south of the Zahrani River, some 40 kilometres from the border, a "combat zone."
Evacuation orders were issued around 3:30am. By 5am, Israeli aircraft were hitting what the military described as "Hezbollah infrastructure in the Tyre region.
The strikes come as Israel has sharply intensified both ground and air operations across southern and eastern Lebanon over recent days, with Hezbollah reporting "direct" combat, despite the ceasefire theoretically in place since April 17.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mounted a forceful defense of Israel's actions in the region at the UN on Thursday, seeking to counter growing international isolation ahead of elections he could lose, as dozens of delegates streamed out.
Israel's army radio (GLZ) announced Thursday a "significant" reduction in the number of brigades deployed in the occupied "buffer zone" in southern Lebanon.
Thousands of newcomers are joining returning evacuees, a quiet verdict on who won the southern front.
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