1st October 2024 – (Jerusalem) On Tuesday, Israel’s military issued an urgent warning for civilians in approximately 30 villages and towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately, citing imminent attacks following a newly launched ground operation. The directive, communicated via social media by Avichay Adraee, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), highlights the escalating military actions in the region.
“You must evacuate your homes immediately,” Adraee stated in a post on platform X, listing towns predominantly near the Israel-Lebanon border, including Maroun al-Ras, Deir Qanoun, Bint Jbeil, and Aitaroun. Notably, the evacuation advisory also encompassed villages such as Ibl al-Saqi, located approximately 60 kilometres from the border, underscoring the extensive nature of Israel’s planned ground campaign.
Adraee warned, “Anyone near Hezbollah members, their facilities, or their military equipment is putting their life at risk. Any house used by Hezbollah for military purposes is likely to be targeted.” He urged civilians to relocate north of the Awali River and cautioned against any movement southward, which could jeopardise their safety.
Earlier, in a press briefing, IDF chief spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed that the military had initiated “limited and targeted raids along Israel’s northern border” aimed at halting Hezbollah’s rocket fire directed at northern Israel.
On the same morning, Hezbollah retaliated by launching rockets at Tel Aviv and other central cities, resulting in moderate injuries to a 54-year-old bus driver and igniting a fire, according to Israel’s rescue services. Sirens were activated across central Israel and several settlements in the northern West Bank in response to the rocket attacks.
The Israeli military reported intercepting several projectiles entering Israeli territory from Lebanon, with further details under investigation. Hezbollah later claimed responsibility for the rocket assault, asserting they targeted the Glilot Base near Herzliya, where the Mossad intelligence agency is headquartered.
The Israeli ground operation, which commenced overnight, involved commando and paratrooper forces conducting raids while artillery and air strikes targeted various locations, including Beirut’s southern suburb, which experienced heavy bombardment. In a video released by the military, the commander of the commando Egoz Unit confirmed ongoing “targeted” operations in Lebanon, stating, “We started with lower-profile raids, and today we are going to engage in a more significant maneuver to bring the residents of the north back to their homes safely.”
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