Israel declares large part of southern Lebanon a “combat zone”

The Israeli army warned on Wednesday that it considered all Lebanese territory south of the Zahrani River, about forty kilometers from the border, as a "combat zone", and again early Thursday ordered residents to evacuate before new strikes against Hezbollah.

Israel issued this warning as it intensifies its land and air operations in the east and south of the neighboring country, where the pro-Iranian Shiite movement has reported "direct" fighting, despite the ceasefire theoretically in force since April 17, but which both parties accuse each other of violating.

While many Lebanese are trying to celebrate Eid al-Adha, the great Muslim holiday, the Israeli army has called on all residents found in this region to evacuate to the north bank of the Zahrani.

The spokesperson for the Israeli army warned that it would act against Hezbollah "with very great force".

Early Thursday morning, the Israeli army once again called on the inhabitants of Tire to evacuate certain areas where it intends to strike Hezbollah, as well as in a locality in the northeastern suburbs of this large coastal city in southern Lebanon. “For your safety, you must evacuate immediately and head north of the Zahrani River,” its spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on Telegram.

This escalation comes just before a military meeting between the two countries scheduled for Friday at the Pentagon, and in the run-up to new negotiating sessions under American sponsorship on June 2 and 3.

According to the state-run National News Agency ANI, Israeli strikes were carried out Wednesday in the south and the Bekaa Valley in the east, two regions where the Israeli army said it was targeting "Hezbollah infrastructure sites." pro-Iranian.

The army announced the death of a soldier, after a previous loss the day before.

- “Direct confrontations” -

Israeli raids particularly affected Tire and its surroundings, according to ANI and an AFP correspondent.

The Israeli army had previously called for the evacuation of large areas of this city, and repeated for the second day in a row its order to evacuate Nabatiyé.

In this large southern city, ANI reported “huge damage” on Wednesday.

According to the AFP correspondent, residents of threatened areas of Tire have fled to other neighborhoods. Authorities, however, warned that shelters were overwhelmed, urging people to head towards Beirut instead.

Fighters “engaged in direct clashes with enemy forces” in Zawtar el-Sharqiyé, Hezbollah announced for its part, also reporting three drone attacks against troops in northern Israel.

Since Tuesday, he has claimed responsibility for shooting and drone attacks against Israeli forces trying to infiltrate this strategic location.