Israel orders evacuation of 50 villages in Lebanon

The Israeli military has issued an urgent call for residents of more than 50 villages in eastern and southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately for their own safety.

Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing the Associated Press, that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have instructed civilians to move to open areas located at least 1,000 meters away from residential settlements.

In a related development, Hezbollah stated that strikes against Israel were carried out in response to the killing of Iranian leaders and what it described as "continued Israeli aggression." The escalating cross-border tensions have led to increased military activity along the frontier, prompting the IDF to designate specific zones as high-risk for the local population.

The current situation follows months of heightened regional instability. Southern Lebanon has frequently been a focal point for military operations due to the presence of Hezbollah infrastructure. International observers note that such large-scale evacuation orders often precede expanded military maneuvers aimed at neutralizing threats while attempting to minimize civilian casualties in the conflict zone.