JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said Tuesday it had deployed troops to several locations in southern Lebanon in what it described as a “forward defense” measure along the border.
“We have positioned soldiers on the border area in additional points to defend our civilians, to prevent Hezbollah from attacking them,” military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani told journalists.
“This is not a ground operation. This is a tactical measure to ensure the safety of our people,” he added.
The military also issued new evacuation orders for dozens of locations across Lebanon, including warnings to residents in two southern Beirut neighborhoods to stay away from several buildings ahead of what it described as imminent military action.
“Urgent warning to the residents of Lebanon, specifically in the villages whose names are shown. For your safety you must evacuate your homes immediately,” said a statement by the military’s Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee on Telegram, listing 50 locations.
“You are located near Hezbollah facilities and interests, against which the IDF will operate in the near future,” he said in a separate warning addressed to residents of the southern Beirut neighborhoods of Ghobeiry and Haret Hreik.
Lebanon’s government on Monday took the unprecedented step of banning Hezbollah’s military and security activity, prompting the Iran-backed group to condemn the decision.
Hezbollah, which is represented in both the government and parliament, said it had launched rockets and drones toward Israel early Monday. Israel responded with strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and dozens of villages in southern Lebanon, vowing to make the group pay a “heavy price.”
Lebanon’s health ministry said the strikes killed at least 31 people and wounded at least 149.
