Israel expands evacuation orders north of the Litani, Hezbollah targets Avivim with rockets

The Israeli occupation army has taken a new escalatory step in southern Lebanon, issuing immediate evacuation orders for residents of 11 towns located north of the Litani River. These orders go beyond the boundaries of the so-called 'security zone' that Israel defined since the fragile ceasefire agreement came into effect on April 17, indicating the occupation's intention to expand the scope of its ground and air operations.

Field sources reported that the Israeli warnings included villages distributed across the Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts, while the largest number of them were concentrated in the Nabatieh district. The issuance of these orders coincided with an intensification of air raids carried out by warplanes and drones, with shelling hitting the towns of Zawtar Sharqiyeh, Srifa, Al-Shihabiya, Al-Qusaybah, and Al-Duwair, in addition to a direct targeting of the town of Siddiqin via a drone.

In the context of the field response, the occupation army announced the detection of six rockets launched from Lebanese territory towards the settlement of 'Avivim' in the Upper Galilee. Israeli military sources confirmed that air defense systems intercepted five of these rockets, while the sixth rocket fell in an open area without causing human casualties, in an operation that falls within Hezbollah's continuous responses to Israeli transgressions.

The past hours witnessed intense artillery shelling launched from occupation positions stationed in the town of Khiam, targeting the vicinity of the towns of Mansouri, Qleileh, and the hills of Majdal Zoun. Reports from the region indicated that some villages were subjected to heavy shelling even before the official evacuation orders were issued, while shells hit other villages not covered by the warnings at all, leading to a state of panic and forced displacement among civilians.

Regarding destructive operations, occupation forces continued to blow up homes and facilities within the border villages they had infiltrated, particularly in the towns of Shama and Al-Bayadiyah. These operations, according to observers, aim to create a buffer zone devoid of residents and urban landmarks, which represents a continuous violation of international understandings that sought to establish calm in the border region.

This week is considered the most violent on the ground in weeks, with local sources counting more than 60 Lebanese towns subjected to air raids or concentrated artillery shelling. In contrast, Hezbollah has escalated its military operations, targeting gatherings of occupation soldiers within the occupied villages, in addition to announcing the destruction of a number of military and engineering vehicles and artillery positions belonging to the Israeli army.

Field data indicate that the occupation is racing against time as the extended truce period approaches its end, by imposing a new geographical reality in the south. Fears are growing of the situation sliding towards a comprehensive confrontation in light of Israel's insistence on crossing previously drawn red lines, and its disregard for all warnings about the consequences of targeting areas north of the Litani.

Amidst this escalation, Lebanese and international political circles are awaiting the outcomes of these developments, especially with the expansion of displacement from the villages covered by the new evacuation orders. The field situation remains prone to further explosion, as long as the Israeli military machine continues to shell deep into Lebanese territory and expand the scope of its aerial and artillery targeting away from the direct border strip.

The Israeli army is practically expanding the geographical scope of villages targeted by warplanes, and the raids included towns located outside the previously defined security zone.