UPDATE 2 - Israel launches airstrikes in southern Lebanon after evacuation order despite ceasefire

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGES DECK

By Wassim Samih Seifeddine and Rania Abu Shamala

BEIRUT/ISTANBUL (AA) – The Israeli army launched a series of airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday evening, shortly after warning residents to evacuate, despite a ceasefire agreement in place since November 2024.

Israeli fighter jets struck a building in Tayr Debba in the Tyre district, and another in Al-Taybeh in the Marjayoun district. Airstrikes also targeted a building in Aita al-Jabal in Bint Jbeil, and another in Zoutar al-Sharqiya in Nabatieh, the Lebanese news agency NNA reported.

The Israeli army also hit two buildings in Kafr Dounin and Zawtar Al-Sharqiya in the Nabatieh district.

Footage obtained by Anadolu and shared on social media showed powerful explosions and rising flames, and smoke following the strikes in the targeted areas.

According to NNA, Israeli drones also flew at very low altitude over the capital, Beirut, and its southern suburbs.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said one person was injured in an Israeli strike in Tayr Debba.

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, citing military sources, said that the attacks were carried out in coordination with US forces stationed at the Northern Command base in Israel.

KAN said the strikes targeted mainly Shia villages near the border to allegedly prevent the deployment of Hezbollah fighters in areas adjacent to Israel.

The broadcaster, citing Israeli military officials, said that Lebanese troop deployments in the south were slower than expected.

Thursday’s attacks came after the Israeli army ordered Lebanese residents to evacuate before the attacks.

The army claimed that the strikes aimed to thwart Hezbollah’s attempts to rebuild its capabilities in Aita al-Jabal, al-Taybeh, and Tayr Debba.

There was no comment from Hezbollah on the Israeli attacks.

Tensions have been mounting in southern Lebanon for weeks, with the Israeli army intensifying near-daily air raids inside Lebanese territory despite the ceasefire, under the pretext of targeting Hezbollah members and infrastructure.

Israeli Channel 12 reported on Thursday that Tel Aviv is preparing for another possible round of fighting with Hezbollah.

The Israeli army has killed more than 4,000 people and injured nearly 17,000 in its attacks on Lebanon, which began in October 2023 and turned into a full-scale offensive in September 2024.