On June 14, the Israeli military accused Hezbollah of launching three projectiles toward northern Israel, calling it a flagrant violation of the ceasefire. The accusation came just hours after Israel ordered mandatory evacuations for residents of more than twenty towns in southern Lebanon.
Israel continued its strikes on Lebanon despite Iran's statement that the country is part of a memorandum expected to be signed with the United States aimed at ending the war in the region. Israel explained its attacks as retaliation for Hezbollah missiles and drones.
Israel's warning on Sunday covered 29 locations, including 25 towns in the Nabatieh district and 4 towns in the Sidon district. Residents in these areas are required to evacuate immediately north of the Zahrani River. The Israeli military spokesman confirmed the evacuation order includes the towns of Jbaa, Houmin al-Tahta, Ansar, and Kfar Sir.
Shortly after the announcement, Al Jazeera reporters on the ground reported an Israeli airstrike targeting the town of Froun in the Bint Jbeil district. Al Jazeera's Heidi Pett, reporting from Beirut, said: "Once again, the focus is on the southern city of Nabatieh. This was once a bustling major city, now home to one of the only remaining functioning hospitals in the south, and it has been subjected to airstrikes by Israel over the past few weeks, causing widespread destruction."
Meanwhile, anxiety grips Lebanon over the prospect of a US-Iran deal. After the US and Iran announced a temporary ceasefire in April, Lebanon endured its deadliest day of the war with over 350 people killed. Pett stressed: "Last time when the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, Israel said that Lebanon was not part of that agreement and wanted to prove it clearly by striking over 100 locations in Lebanon within just 10 minutes. The fear is they repeat that stance, arguing they are not part of the deal and will not back down."
In a related development, far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Sunday called for intensifying attacks on Hezbollah. Ben-Gvir declared that every time Hezbollah launches a drone from Lebanon, Israel must retaliate with a missile. He also called for killing "a thousand" Hezbollah fighters in revenge for "each hair on the head" of an injured Israeli soldier.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also spoke out, calling for strikes on Hezbollah strongholds in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh after two drones infiltrated Israeli territory. He told Israel National News: "The shelling toward northern communities is a test of the 'Dahiyeh equation' announced by Prime Minister Netanyahu. I call on him to implement it resolutely and powerfully, knock down more buildings in Dahiyeh today."
