Israel orders forced evacuation of villages in south Lebanon, Bekaa; continues its strikes

Just hours before talks between Lebanon and Israel were set to begin in Washington under U.S. mediation, the Israeli army on Thursday morning issued a sweeping forced evacuation order to residents of several villages in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa, announced by its Arabic-speaking spokesperson Avichay Adraee on X.

Adraee called on residents of Lebbaya, Sohmor, Teffahta, Kfar Melki, Yohmor (Bekaa), Ain al-Tineh, Houmin Fawqa, and Mazraat Sinai to leave their homes and move more than 1,000 meters away from these localities, claiming that Hezbollah had "violated the cease-fire agreement" and that the Israeli army would "act with force." Following this, our correspondent in southern Lebanon reported that families evacuated en masse from the targeted villages.

Throughout the day, a series of strikes and bombings hit several regions in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa. In Khiam (Marjayoun), several homes were demolished, while air raids targeted Mansouri, Siddiqine (Sour), and Kafra (Bint Jbeil). Two people were killed at dawn in Srifa, according to our correspondent.

Other strikes targeted the Mshaa neighborhood in Teffahta (Saida), as well as vehicles in Kfar Sir, Zrarieh (one dead), Kfar Melki (three injured), and Jarjouh (Nabatieh). In addition, raids hit Haddatha (Bint Jbeil), Jarjouh, and the area between Arnoun and Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh), as well as Sohmor in the Bekaa.

Israel targets ambulances, injures rescuers

In Qseibeh, in the Nabatieh region, ambulances stationed in front of the civil defense center of al-Rissala scouts were hit, injuring at least one person. Additionally, another Israeli strike targeted a civil defense center belonging to the Islamic Health Committee, affiliated with Hezbollah, in Zrarieh, in the Saida district. Two rescuers were injured, according to our correspondent.

An explosive drone launched by Hezbollah injures several

Meanwhile, the Israeli army reported on X that an explosive drone launched from Lebanon by Hezbollah fell in Israeli territory near the border. According to the army, "several Israeli citizens were injured and hospitalized for medical treatment." The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth also stated that Hezbollah drone attacks injured 17 people in Israel over the past two weeks.

For its part, Hezbollah claimed a series of attacks on Israeli military positions. The pro-Iranian movement said it had fired artillery and rockets at a gathering of vehicles and soldiers in Bayyada near Sour, as well as at a Merkava tank with a guided missile. The militia party also said it targeted a newly established Israeli post in Blat (Marjayoun) with artillery fire, as well as a gathering of Israeli soldiers in Rshaf (Bint Jbeil).

Lebanese and Israeli representatives resumed talks in Washington on Thursday under U.S. mediation, just days before the current extension of the cease-fire, which came into force on April 17, expires on May 17. Despite the truce, Israeli strikes have continued regularly in southern Lebanon, with Israel asserting its right to target Hezbollah. More than 400 people have been killed since the cease-fire took effect, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Since March 2, Israeli strikes have killed 2,896 people and wounded 8,824.