Israel issues unprecedented evacuation orders for Lebanese village due border conflict

Israel has dropped leaflets over the southern Lebanese village of Wazzani, urging residents to evacuate immediately. This marks the first such evacuation directive issued by Israel in 11 months of ongoing conflict with Hezbollah, which intensified following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

The leaflets, which were distributed by drone, warned that Hezbollah was firing rockets from the area and instructed residents to leave before 4:00 p.m. (1300 GMT) and not return until the end of the conflict. The leaflet also labeled anyone remaining in the area as a “terrorist.”

Wazzani, an agricultural region near the Lebanese-Israeli border, hosts many Syrian workers. The Israeli military later clarified that the leaflet drop was an unsanctioned initiative by the 769 Brigade and not approved by the Northern Command, prompting an internal investigation.

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The leaflet drop represents a sharp escalation in Israel’s strategy, which has previously seen similar tactics used in the Gaza Strip. The recent cross-border violence has already resulted in significant casualties, with 623 reported dead in Lebanon and 50 in Israel, including soldiers and civilians.

Hezbollah’s second-in-command, Naim Qassem, warned that further Israeli actions could exacerbate displacement on both sides of the border, highlighting the severe humanitarian implications of the ongoing conflict.