Israel Orders Evacuations in Southern Lebanon Amid Ongoing Ceasefire

Israel's military has issued new evacuation orders to residents of more than ten villages and towns in southern Lebanon, including areas beyond its current zone of occupation, despite a truce intended to halt fighting with Hezbollah. The affected areas include several in the Nabatieh district, located north of the Litani River, where Israel has stationed troops.

The Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, announced on X that residents must "evacuate your homes immediately and move away from the villages and towns by at least 1,000 meters into open areas."

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported a series of Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon, including on towns not mentioned in the evacuation order.

Since April 17, a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire has been in place between Israel and Lebanon, aimed at halting the violence between Hezbollah and Israel's military. However, both sides have continued to launch attacks at each other, trading blame over breaches.

On Wednesday, Israel's military chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, threatened to strike Hezbollah "beyond the Yellow Line," which marks the area of Israeli control. He stated, "Any threat, anywhere, against our communities or our forces – including beyond the Yellow Line and north of the Litani – will be eliminated."

In the past week, two soldiers and an army contractor have been killed by drone attacks in the area, and dozens of soldiers wounded.

The U.S. has called for direct peace negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, but Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Wednesday that Israel should fully implement the ceasefire before talks can take place.

Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health reported that at least ten people were killed in Israeli attacks across the country on Saturday. The total death toll since the Israel-Hezbollah war escalated on March 2 is 2,659, with 8,183 injured.