The Israeli army on Friday issued new evacuation directives to residents in parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs and five villages in southern Lebanon amid ongoing hostilities.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee released maps marking the targeted areas in red, urging immediate evacuations. Residents of Haret Hreik and Hadath in Beirut’s southern suburbs were instructed to leave their homes and maintain a 500-meter distance from designated buildings. Adraee alleged that the areas house facilities linked to Hezbollah and warned of imminent military actions.

In southern Lebanon, the villages of Taybeh, Aadchit Al Qusayr, Deir Seryan, Burj Al Shemali, and Maachouk were also included in the evacuation order. The residents were advised to move north of the Awali River for safety.

Israel has intensified its operations in Lebanon, launching an air campaign against alleged Hezbollah targets since late September. On October 1, the conflict escalated with an Israeli ground assault into southern Lebanon.

According to Lebanese health authorities, nearly 3,600 people have been killed, over 5,000 injured, and more than 1 million displaced in Lebanon since the violence began in October 2023.

The ongoing Israeli actions follow months of cross-border clashes and heightened tensions. Israeli officials claim their operations target Hezbollah infrastructure, while Lebanese authorities decry the attacks as indiscriminate and devastating to civilian populations.

The latest developments add to fears of broader regional instability as international calls for a ceasefire remain unanswered. (ILKHA)