Israel’s military on Wednesday declared a new area in southern Lebanon a combat zone and said residents in the area should move north, warning that it would act “with great force” against the Lebanese Hezbollah group in the region.
The military statement, posted on X, appeared to indicate a further escalation after more than 120 strikes on Tuesday hit southern and eastern Lebanon, despite the announcement of a ceasefire on April 16.
“We advise residents of southern Lebanon to move north of the Zahrani River, as all areas south of the river are considered a fighting zone,” an Israeli army spokesman tweeted.
The Zahrani River flows from east to west about 40 kilometers north of the Israel-Lebanon border, and the Lebanese territory south of it covers about 2,000 square kilometers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel needed to take more action in Lebanon to protect communities in northern Israel from Hezbollah.
In the past, the Israeli army has ordered the people below the Litani River further south to leave. It has already issued orders to evacuate individuals and conduct strikes in several towns between Litani and Zahrani.
