Intensive Israeli Airstrikes and an Evacuation Order for 20 Towns in a New Ceasefire Violation
The southern Lebanese front is witnessing dangerous escalation as Israeli airstrikes target several towns, alongside an urgent evacuation warning for 20 towns and villages near Nabatieh and Zahrani.
News Centre-Amid fears of the situation sliding into a broader confrontation, southern Lebanon is witnessing a military escalation as ceasefire violations continue, with the expansion of military operations that have led to casualties and the destruction of homes and official institutions.
Lebanese official media reported that Israel launched a new wave of airstrikes this morning, Saturday, June 13, on several towns in southern Lebanon, hours after the Israeli army issued an urgent warning to residents to evacuate 20 towns and villages, including the city of Nabatieh, and head north towards the Zahuani area.
The National News Agency reported that the airstrikes targeted the towns of Kfarhouna, Al‑Rihan, and Sajid, areas located not far from Nabatieh, reflecting the expanding scope of military operations.
The agency also announced the death of a person in the town of Maarakeh after an Israeli drone targeted the town's cemetery. In the Nabatieh district, warplanes carried out three nighttime airstrikes on the town of Deir Al‑Zahrani.
In a notable development, the agency indicated that Israeli forces blew up homes and official institutions at dawn in the city of Bint Jbeil, simultaneously with artillery shelling targeting the town of Srifa in the Tyre district.
The Israeli army's Arabic‑language spokesperson issued an urgent warning on the X platform to residents of 20 towns and villages, demanding their immediate evacuation towards north of the Zahrani River, about 40 kilometres from the border.
The evacuation list included the towns of Deir Al‑Zahrani, Al‑Numairiya, Al‑Sharqiya, Al‑Duwair, Harouf, Haboush, Kfar Jouz, Zibdin, Nabatieh Al‑Tahta, Nabatieh Al‑Fouqa, Kfar Roumman, Al‑Mahmoudiya, Sajid, Al‑Rihan, Aramta, Kfarhouna, Milikh, Al‑Luweiza, Jarjoua, and Arabsalim.
This measure comes after the Israeli forces last month designated the area south of the Zahrani River as a "combat zone."
This escalation comes despite the ceasefire agreement announced last April, which was extended twice, before the fourth round of negotiations affirmed the parties' commitment to its implementation.