The Israeli military escalated its operations in Lebanon on Friday, mobilizing an additional brigade and urging residents of 23 designated villages and towns to evacuate northward for their safety. Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), issued a warning on the social media platform X, stating, “For your own safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move to the north of the Awali River.” The Awali River, situated near Sidon in southern Lebanon, lies several kilometers north of many areas on the evacuation list.
Warning to Civilians
Adraee cautioned that anyone near Hezbollah elements or facilities could be in imminent danger, adding that civilians moving south risk potential harm from Israeli forces.
Additional Brigade Deployed
Later in the day, the IDF announced the mobilization of an additional reserve brigade following a “situational assessment.”
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This brigade will be deployed for “operational missions in the northern arena” to support ongoing combat efforts against Hezbollah.
Continued Offensive Against Hezbollah
The military’s offensive in southern Lebanon continued, with the IDF reporting the deaths of four militants in a combined airstrike and ground attack targeting a “central underground command center” of Hezbollah. The operation reportedly resulted in the destruction of “dozens of weapons depots, several tunnel shafts, and other infrastructures.” Hezbollah has not yet commented on the latest attack.
Escalating Conflict
Since September 23, the Israeli army has conducted extensive airstrikes and described its ground operations in Lebanon as “limited,” amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah. The ongoing conflict, which began on October 8, 2023, has resulted in over 2,300 fatalities, more than 11,000 injuries, and the displacement of approximately 1.2 million residents in Lebanon, according to local authorities.
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