Israeli Army Declares Southern Lebanon a 'War Zone,' Orders Evacuation

Lebanon. The Israeli army has declared a vast area of southern Lebanon a 'war zone' and ordered its residents to evacuate immediately. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) urged locals to move north of the Zahrani River and warned of 'even stronger' action against Hezbollah. This is considered the biggest displacement order since the ceasefire that came into effect on April 17. This southern region is said to cover about 14 percent of Lebanon's territory. Israel has accused Hezbollah of repeatedly violating the ceasefire, while Hezbollah has accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire. On Wednesday, the Israeli army carried out an airstrike in the southern city of Tyre. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced that ground operations in southern Lebanon would be further expanded. He said that military operations have been intensified after Hezbollah launched a drone attack on northern Israeli citizens and Israeli soldiers in the border areas. The IDF has issued nine separate evacuation warnings in the last 24 hours. This has increased significant military tension on the Israel-Lebanon border and the threat of widespread displacement. Residents of the city of Tyre have started leaving their homes amid the fear of attacks. Local resident Rida told the BBC, 'Everyone is scared, people are packing their belongings.' About 300 villages and towns south of the Zahrani River have been affected. Many of these people had already been displaced from other parts of southern Lebanon. According to relief workers, the city of Sidon, south of the capital Beirut, is unable to accommodate more displaced people. They have urged the public to go towards the Beqaa Valley and Mount Lebanon in the eastern region. According to Lebanese media, Israeli airstrikes also took place in the southern region and eastern Beqaa Valley on Wednesday. At least four people were reported dead in the Chouf and Nabatieh areas. In the last 24 hours alone, Israel had carried out more than 150 airstrikes in about 50 villages and towns in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa region. According to Lebanon's Ministry of Health, at least 31 people died on Tuesday alone. In the Burj al-Shamali area near Tyre, 15 people lost their lives. Hezbollah said on Wednesday that its fighters had engaged in 'close combat' with Israeli forces in the Jawtar al-Sharquiyeh area north of the Litani River. This area falls outside the 'buffer zone' declared by Israel. Netanyahu said in a cabinet meeting that the army has advanced deeper into the occupied border areas of southern Lebanon. 'The security zone is being strengthened to ensure the safety of communities in northern Israel,' he said. This tension, amid efforts to end the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, is likely to affect diplomatic negotiations. Iran has insisted that Lebanon's issue must be included in any agreement, while Israel has stated that operations will continue until the threat from Hezbollah is eliminated. Lebanon was drawn into the war on March 2 after Hezbollah fired rockets towards Israel. Since then, Israel has launched airstrikes and ground operations across Lebanon. According to Lebanon's Ministry of Health, at least 3,213 people have died since the war began. Israel, on the other hand, has reported the deaths of 23 soldiers and four civilians.