Israel Expands Evacuation Orders in Southern Lebanon Amid Ongoing Skirmishes with Hezbollah
Israel warned residents of Tyre, including its Christian quarter, to evacuate as strikes continued in southern Lebanon, while Tehran threatened further attacks if Israeli aggression persisted.
Israel issued new evacuation warnings on Tuesday for the entire city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, extending the order for the first time to the historic Christian quarter. The Israeli military said the move was prompted by identified activity by Hezbollah operatives in the area and warned of imminent strikes. Lebanese state media reported that some Israeli attacks hit locations not covered by prior evacuation notices.
Hezbollah rejected any cease-fire and continued firing from its positions in southern Lebanon. Tehran warned it would strike Israel again if the latter resumed what it called “aggression and hostile acts,” including operations in the south.
President Donald Trump said both Iran and Israel had agreed to halt attacks on each other and hinted that a comprehensive U.S.–Iran deal could be finalized within days, though Iranian officials did not immediately respond.
In related developments, a U.S. Army Apache helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz; both crew members were rescued with assistance from an unmanned surface drone, according to Central Command. Oil prices slipped slightly after rising the previous day amid the regional exchanges of fire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called off further strikes against Iran after a phone conversation with President Trump, during which Trump indicated a breakthrough in negotiations was near. The cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon, announced last week after talks in Washington, has not been accepted by Hezbollah, which says it will not stop firing without concessions from Israel.
Tyre’s mayor, Hassan Dbouk, said the city could not evacuate its 100,000 residents at once and that many people had no place to go. Emergency shelters filled quickly as authorities worked to move vulnerable residents.
The ongoing conflict in Lebanon remains a key obstacle to broader U.S. efforts to end the war between Israel and Iran, with Tehran insisting any agreement must include an end to fighting in Lebanon, a condition Israel continues to reject.
