Israel Issues New Evacuation Orders in Southern Lebanon Despite Ceasefire
Al Jazeera Staff
The Israeli military has ordered the forced evacuation of residents in more than 10 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, including areas north of the Litani River, escalating tensions despite a US-brokered ceasefire. Lebanon's Health Ministry confirmed at least 10 people were killed in Israeli attacks on April 26. The total death toll since the Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalated on March 2 has reached 2,659.
On April 27, the Israeli military issued forced evacuation orders for residents in more than 10 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, including areas in the Nabatieh district north of the Litani River — a region considered beyond Israel's current occupation zone. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, speaking in Arabic, posted on X, instructing residents to "leave their homes immediately and move at least 1,000 meters away from the towns and villages to open areas."
According to reports, this evacuation list includes several localities that had not previously been asked to relocate. This suggests that Israel's area of operations in southern Lebanon continues to expand, despite a fragile US-brokered ceasefire that took effect on April 17 and was just extended until mid-May.
Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) subsequently reported a series of Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon, including towns not listed for evacuation. The same day, Lebanon's Health Ministry confirmed at least 10 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Saturday (April 26). The total death toll since the Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalated on March 2 has reached 2,659, with 8,183 wounded.
Al Jazeera correspondent Rory Challands in Beirut assessed that the current ceasefire "exists only in name." He said: "In the south, Israel maintains five infantry divisions, continuously bombing and extensively destroying homes. Notably, three of the towns ordered to evacuate this morning received such an order for the first time. Some of them are north of the Litani River, indicating Israel's area of operations continues to expand."
Earlier, on April 23, Israeli military Chief of Staff General Eyal Zamir threatened to attack Hezbollah in areas "beyond the Yellow Line" — the boundary marking Israeli-controlled territory. Zamir stated: "Any threat, anywhere, against our communities or forces — including beyond the Yellow Line and north of the Litani River — will be eliminated." This statement came amid the past week, when two Israeli soldiers and a military contractor were killed in drone attacks in the area, along with dozens of soldiers wounded.
On the diplomatic front, the US has called for direct peace negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. However, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated on April 23 that Israel must fully implement the ceasefire agreement before any negotiations can proceed.
