Israel Declares Southern Lebanon a 'Combat Zone' as Evacuation Orders Spark Panic and Fighting Escalates

A dramatic expansion of the war zone

Israel's military has dramatically expanded its area of operations in southern Lebanon, declaring all territory south of the Sahrani River a 'combat zone' and ordering residents to evacuate immediately. The river runs approximately 40 kilometers north of the Israeli-Lebanese border, marking a significant northward push. An Israeli military spokesperson, in an Arabic-language video message on X, warned residents to stay away from Hezbollah infrastructure and stated the army was preparing to act 'with extreme force' against the militia.

The Israeli army is preparing to act with extreme force against the militia.

Panic and flight among civilians

The evacuation orders, which for the first time included the coastal city of Tyre and the city of Nabatieh, sparked widespread panic. Witnesses reported that residents fled to the beach in Tyre as local authorities directed them to the city's stadium because emergency shelters were already overcrowded. Long traffic jams formed on roads heading north toward the capital, Beirut. The Israeli military had previously issued evacuation calls for more than 50 locations, including areas north of the Litani River for the first time.

Ground offensive pushes beyond the 'yellow line'

The Israeli army announced on Tuesday that it would expand its operations beyond the so-called 'yellow line,' a demarcation roughly ten kilometers inside Lebanese territory that Israel had established as a buffer zone. Israeli troops have now reportedly advanced north of this line and partially across the Litani River. Hezbollah reported clashes with Israeli soldiers north of the 'yellow line' near Nabatieh. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel was seizing 'strategic positions' and reinforcing the buffer zone along the border.

Israel is taking strategic positions and strengthening the buffer zone along the border.

Heavy casualties and airstrikes

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, at least 31 people were killed and around 40 wounded in airstrikes on Tuesday alone. Among the dead were four children and three women. The town of Burj al-Shamali near Tyre was particularly hard hit, with 14 fatalities. This followed an airstrike on the village of Mashghara in eastern Lebanon that killed twelve people the same day. The Lebanese Health Ministry reports that since the outbreak of war in early March, 3,269 people have been killed and nearly 10,000 wounded. The Israeli air force conducted more than 100 strikes overnight, targeting Hezbollah weapons depots, command centers, and launch ramps, and reported hitting over 150 Hezbollah targets on Tuesday around Tyre, Nabatieh, and the Bekaa Valley.

A ceasefire in name only

A ceasefire brokered by the United States has officially been in place since mid-April, but fighting has intensified dramatically in recent days. The agreement allows Israel defensive measures against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks but prohibits offensive operations on Lebanese territory. Both parties accuse each other of violating the terms. Hezbollah, which rejects direct negotiations with Israel, has openly opposed the agreement and escalated its attacks, including the use of explosive drones. Israeli media report that Hezbollah is now deploying fiber-optic drones, which are resistant to jamming and can strike targets at greater distances. Sirens sounded in northern Israel as explosive drones launched from Lebanon struck the area.

The evacuation call for residents in Tyre is a sign that the Israeli army intends to expand the scope of its operations.

International concerns and US position

According to Israeli media reports, the United States has approved an expansion of Israeli operations but has warned against large-scale attacks on Beirut. The Lebanese army, which is not a party to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, reported that another one of its soldiers was killed in an attack near Nabatieh, the second such death this week.