Israel issues evacuation warning for dozen villages in south and east Lebanon

Israel's military on Wednesday issued a new evacuation warning for a dozen villages in southern and eastern Lebanon ahead of expected strikes, despite a truce with Lebanon intended to halt the fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah.

"For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move away from the villages and towns by at least 1,000 meters into open areas," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X, listing 12 villages.

Before the warning, the Israeli army struck Zelaya, a town in West Bekaa included in the warning, killing the town's mayor. Two other people were killed in a strike on Mayfadoun, and three paramedics were wounded in a strike on Deirkifa.

Hezbollah for its part targeted Wednesday Israeli troops in the southern border town of al-Qantara.

Israel’s military said late Tuesday that Hezbollah militants had launched “several rockets” toward Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.

It also said it intercepted drones and “aerial targets” launched by Hezbollah before they crossed into Israeli territory.

Hezbollah started firing at Israel shortly after the beginning of the Iran war, and Israel responded with airstrikes and launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced along the border.

The attacks have continued despite a ceasefire in place since April 17.

The Health Ministry in Beirut said Tuesday that 2,702 people were killed and 8,311 people were wounded since the war began.