Suspicious Israeli army threat call turns out false in Sour district, attacks continue in the South

SOUR — A man in a three-story building between the towns of Mansouri and Byout al-Siyad in the Sour district received a threatening call on Tuesday night, reportedly from the Israeli army, instructing him to evacuate. Authorities later confirmed the call was false.

The caller, whose identity remains unverified, allegedly ordered the resident, Bilal Ayian, to leave “a site belonging to the Hezbollah organization,” according to a message shared by our regional correspondent. Ayian, a citizen, said he was alarmed by the message, which read: “You are on a site belonging to the Hezbollah organization. Please evacuate the house and move 500 meters away for your safety. Leave the Ismail al-Zein residential complex immediately.”

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Residents of the building were evacuated as a precaution. Security forces have launched an investigation to determine the source of the call.

While the Israeli army regularly issues evacuation warnings — often through its Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee — individual calls to private phones are rarely verified and often prove unfounded.

Later in the afternoon, the Israeli army launched two major operations in southern Lebanon, firing machine guns and grenades in the Hasbaya district, our regional correspondent reported.

One operation advanced from the Rouissat al-Alam position toward the outskirts of the village of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya), while another moved from the Tallet al-Qarn position toward the Majidiyeh plain. Three grenades were also fired toward the same area.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army continued its attacks in South Lebanon on Wednesday, firing machine guns first from the Roueissat al-Alam position toward the outskirts of the village of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya district), then from the Tallet al-Qarn position toward the Majidieh plain (Hasbaya), according to our correspondent.

Israeli soldiers also launched three grenades in the same area. Just before that, Israeli warplanes flew at low altitude over South Lebanon and the Bekaa.

In the evening, the Israeli army fired medium-caliber weapons toward the outskirts of Yaroun (Bint Jbeil district), our correspondent reported.

Despite a cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel that took effect on Nov. 27, 2024, Israel continues to attack southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and, to a lesser extent, Beirut’s southern suburbs. The attacks have included drone strikes, air raids, ground incursions, machine-gun fire, and house demolitions.

Last week, Lebanon appointed civilian Ambassador Simon Karam to the cease-fire monitoring mechanism, responding to calls from Washington and Tel Aviv. Israel claims its operations target Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure and aim to counter the group’s alleged reconstruction efforts. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Army and government have pledged to disarm the party.