Israel warns nine Lebanese villages to evacuate before airstrikes

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued evacuation warnings on Saturday morning for residents of nine villages in southern Lebanon ahead of planned airstrikes targeting the Hezbollah group.

The warning applies to the villages of Tayr Debba, Aabbasiyyeh, Burj Rahal, Maaroub, Barish, Arzoun, Jannata, Zrariyeh, and Ain Baal. Residents have been instructed to evacuate to a distance of at least one kilometre from their homes.

According to the IDF, the strikes are in response to what it described as violations of the ceasefire agreement by Hezbollah.

Army spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee addressed residents directly in a statement, saying: “In light of the Hezbollah terror organisation’s violations of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is forced to act against it with force and does not intend to harm you.”

By Tamilla Hasanova