UPDATE 2 - Israel army strikes 4 towns in southern Lebanon after evacuation orders

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Mohammad Sio and Betul Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Israeli army launched fresh airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday shortly after issuing immediate evacuation orders for the residents of four towns.

The Israeli army claimed in a statement that it struck several weapons storage facilities belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

The attacks came shortly after military spokesman Avichay Adraee ordered residents of the towns of Jbaa, Mahrouneh, Mjadel and Baraachit to immediately leave their homes ahead of the strikes, claiming that the attacks were in response to what he described as Hezbollah’s “prohibited attempts” to rebuild its activities in southern Lebanon.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah or Lebanese authorities on the Israeli attacks.

The air assault came a day after civilian-led Israeli and Lebanese delegations attended a meeting of the ceasefire monitoring committee in Naqoura in southern Lebanon, which concluded with a consensus of broader political and technical engagement.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, at least 335 people have been killed and 973 injured by Israeli fire since a ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27, 2024. The UN peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) also reported more than 10,000 Israeli air and ground violations.

Under the ceasefire, the Israeli army was supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon this January but instead only partially pulled out and continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.