BEIRUT — Israel yesterday declared all areas south of Lebanon’s Zahrani River, which runs roughly 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the border, “combat zones” and urged residents to evacuate ahead of strikes against Hezbollah.
The first such sweeping warning since an April 17 ceasefire came as Israel’s military launched broad raids on the country’s south and east, and as Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with Israeli forces beyond an Israeli-declared “yellow line” in the south.
It also came as many Lebanese tried to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
“We advise the residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate to the north of the Zahrani River, as all areas south of the river are considered combat zones,” the Israeli military said on social media, warning it would act “with great force” against Hezbollah.
Israel this week vowed to intensify operations in Lebanon and said it was expanding ground operations there.
Talks are expected on Friday between Lebanese and Israeli military delegations at the Pentagon, as are a new round of direct negotiations next week aimed at ending the hostilities.
The Israeli military had earlier issued evacuation warnings for the southern city of Nabatieh, and swathes of the coastal city of Tyre and surrounding areas.
An AFP correspondent said residents from threatened Tyre areas had converged on parts of the city not covered by the warning. Authorities, however, warned that shelters were full and urged people to head to Beirut instead.
The state-run National News Agency (NNA) later reported strikes on Tyre and its surroundings, as Israel’s army said it was attacking “Hezbollah command centres”.
NNA also reported a series of strikes on Nabatieh city, resulting in “huge destruction” in residential areas.
Lebanon’s army also said yesterday that one of its soldiers was killed in an Israeli strike in south Lebanon.
Israel’s army chief Lieutenant Colonel Eyal Zamir said on yesterday that “we are intensifying our operations in order to strike ever more severe blows to the Hezbollah organisation”.
