Israel Strikes Southern Lebanon Villages Following Evacuation Warnings

Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple areas in southern Lebanon on Friday after the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for nine villages, escalating tensions amid ongoing hostilities with Hezbollah. According to Lebanon’s state news agency, at least six people were killed in the latest strikes, which hit locations including the village of Anqoun after residents were urged to evacuate earlier in the day.

The evacuation alerts were issued by the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson nearly three hours before the strikes began, prompting hundreds of families to flee from Anqoun and nearby areas such as Aarnaya, close to the predominantly Christian town of Maghdoucheh near Sidon. Reports indicated that Anqoun was also sheltering around 2,500 displaced people at the time of the strikes, raising concerns over the humanitarian impact of the escalation.

The latest attacks came a day after Hezbollah rejected a proposed ceasefire framework involving the Lebanese government, insisting instead on a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key political ally of Hezbollah and a mediator in negotiations, stated that any ceasefire arrangement must include reciprocal withdrawals and should apply comprehensively across land, sea and air domains without partial measures or restricted zones.

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Berri also criticised provisions in the proposed agreement that included so-called “pilot zones” and gradual withdrawal mechanisms, arguing that such arrangements fall short of ensuring a complete cessation of hostilities. He reiterated that Hezbollah’s withdrawal from areas south of the Litani River would only be acceptable if matched by a simultaneous Israeli pullback from occupied positions in southern Lebanon.

On the ground, United Nations peacekeepers and Lebanese army units were seen entering areas vacated by Israeli forces in parts of southern Lebanon, including the village of Dibbine near Marjayoun. The movement followed reports of Israeli troop withdrawals from some locations, marking the first such pullback since the latest phase of fighting began. However, large-scale destruction was reported in several villages, with homes and infrastructure damaged by ongoing clashes and airstrikes.

The conflict, which has intensified over recent months, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement in Lebanon, with thousands killed and widespread damage across southern regions. Israeli officials have maintained that operations will continue until Hezbollah no longer poses a security threat, while Lebanese authorities and international mediators continue efforts to secure a comprehensive ceasefire agreement amid deep political and military divisions.

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