Israel urges evacuations in Lebanon as airstrikes target Hezbollah weapons sites
Smoke rises above Lebanon, following an Israeli strike, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Israel's border with Lebanon in northern Israel, May 5, 2024. (Reuters/Ayal Margolin)
The Israeli military has called on residents in Lebanon to evacuate homes and buildings where Hezbollah is believed to be storing weapons, as Israel intensifies its airstrikes on the militant group.
The escalation follows a major exchange of fire on Sunday, during which Hezbollah launched over 100 rockets into northern Israel, reaching deeper than in recent months of low-level conflict.
‘People of Lebanon must evacuate’
Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz commented on his social media account about the issue and said: “The people of Lebanon must evacuate any home turned into a Hezbollah outpost to avoid harm. We will not stop until the threat is removed from Israel’s citizens and the residents of the north return safely to their homes.”
Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon
Early Monday, Israeli warplanes carried out dozens of airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. Residents from several villages posted images on social media showing their hometowns under attack. The state-run National News Agency confirmed airstrikes on multiple locations across southern Lebanon.
In a statement, the Israeli military’s Arab-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said: “The air force is targeting Hezbollah weapons depots in various areas of Lebanon.”
“I call on the residents of villages in Lebanon who live in or near buildings and houses where Hezbollah hides its weapons to evacuate them immediately for their own safety. This is an urgent appeal,” Avichay Adraee said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Escalation of violence
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have sharply escalated in recent days. On Friday, an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut suburb killed a top Hezbollah military commander, along with more than a dozen Hezbollah members. The strike also claimed the lives of dozens of civilians, including women and children.
The conflict took another violent turn last week when thousands of communications devices, primarily used by Hezbollah members, exploded in different parts of Lebanon.
The blasts killed 39 people and wounded nearly 3,000. While Lebanon has accused Israel of orchestrating the attacks, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.
Hezbollah strikes on northern Israel
Hezbollah’s rocket barrage on Sunday marked one of the most intense assaults on northern Israel since the conflict began, striking areas not previously targeted in the months of sporadic hostilities.
The Israeli military responded with artillery fire and airstrikes, aiming at Hezbollah positions along the Lebanese border.
