Israeli strikes kill several in southern Lebanon shortly after new evacuation orders

The Israeli regime issued fresh evacuation orders for several areas in Lebanon on Thursday morning, immediately followed by strikes that killed several people in the south of the Arab country.

The Israeli military issued evacuation orders for several towns near Tyre district, warning residents to flee the areas before aerial bombardments began. This includes the villages of Burj Shemali, Maashouq, and al-Haush, with reports confirming that Israeli warplanes already struck al-Haush shortly after the evacuation warning.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a statement on X that the Israeli army was planning to hit the areas and all residents in and around the structure must flee their homes immediately and move to the north of the Awali River.

According to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA), Israeli attacks late Wednesday resulted in at least five fatalities and 23 injuries in Maarakeh, while another nine were killed and 65 others were injured in Tyre.

Israel’s last night air raids also extended to multiple towns in the Nabatieh region, resulting in additional fatalities, including two in Rumin and Kfarchouba.

Reports indicate that numerous buildings were destroyed in Israel’s bombardments, particularly in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where three distinct attacks targeted the Haret Hreik area, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Local media described the incident as a “very violent raid.”

The predawn strikes occurred as Israel's military intensified its bombardment of southern Lebanon, with reports of raids in Khiam, Jdeidat Marjayoun, al-Qalaa, and Burj al-Muluk.

The renewed focus on the southern region aligns with attempts by ground troops to capture the strategically significant al-Bayyaada hill, while airstrikes aim to disrupt supply routes to prevent the Hezbollah resistance movement from bolstering its presence in the area.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has claimed to have intercepted a drone originating from Lebanon, with parts of the aircraft falling in Western Galilee in the north of the Israeli-occupied territories.

The escalated tension comes as Hezbollah's leader Naim Qassem has reiterated the need for a complete ceasefire, stressing the importance of safeguarding Lebanon's sovereignty in any truce negotiations.

Hezbollah to target Tel Aviv in response to Israeli attacks on Beirut: Sheikh Qassem

The leader of Hezbollah says the movement is determined to fight a long war against Israel, and that their response to the recent deadly airstrike on Beirut will be to target central Tel Aviv.

"Today we are resisting in Lebanon in defense of Lebanon and in defense of the Lebanese people from the Israeli occupation, which will only leave by resistance and will only be defeated by resistance. We will continue in this manner, God willing,” Sheikh Qassem said during a briefing on Wednesday.

He also warned that Israel “cannot defeat us and impose its conditions on us,” stressing that Hezbollah would retaliate for Israel’s attacks and assassinations in Beirut by attacking Tel Aviv and making it “pay the price.”

In Lebanon, at least 3,558 people have been killed and 15,123 others wounded in Israeli attacks since the war on Gaza began.

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