Israel issues evacuation orders for 29 south Lebanon villages ahead of planned strikes

The Israeli military on Sunday issued evacuation warnings for residents of 29 villages in southern Lebanon ahead of planned strikes, despite a ceasefire meant to halt its war with Hezbollah.

The orders came after three drones, suspected to have been launched from Lebanon, struck northern Israel in separate incidents.

Why is Israel ordering evacuations in south Lebanon?

Israel issued evacuation orders for 29 south Lebanon villages after drones suspected to be fired by Hezbollah struck northern Israeli territory on Sunday. The military announced planned strikes in the area in response. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is technically in effect, but the incidents have renewed tensions along the border.

Which villages were ordered to evacuate?

The military's Arabic-language spokesman, Col. Avichay Adraee, issued two successive warnings. The first covered 13 villages, followed by a second for 16 additional communities, including areas north of the Zahrani River.

Residents in the 16 locales were instructed to move at least one kilometer away, while those in the other 13 were ordered to head further north.

What did the drone strikes on northern Israel involve?

In an initial statement, the military said two impacts from suspicious aerial targets were identified near the Israel-Lebanon border. No injuries were reported. A separate statement later confirmed a third hostile aircraft had entered northern Israeli territory, also without causing casualties.

What did Israeli ministers say after the drone incidents?

Following the strikes, two far-right cabinet members called for retaliatory action against Dahiyeh, Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut's southern suburbs.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich invoked the Dahiyeh Doctrine on X, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to implement it decisively. "I call on him to implement it decisively and firmly, and to bring down buildings in Dahiyeh," Smotrich wrote.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also demanded a forceful response. "For every drone, a missile; for every violation, fire; for every UAV, Dahiyeh must tremble," he wrote on X. Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, have previously warned that Israel would strike Dahiyeh if Hezbollah targeted communities in northern Israel, a position they say has Washington's backing.