A man and a woman walk on a sandy Sour beach, while white smoke rises from the village of Qlaileh (on the left) and black smoke from Mansouri, following Israeli strikes, on May 25, 2026. (Credit: Kawnat Haju / AFP)
BEIRUT - Following Tuesday’s deadly escalation in south Lebanon and the Bekaa, Israeli forces have expanded their offensive toward Nabatieh, which has been ordered to fully evacuate for the second time in two days, alongside Sour and its suburbs.
Heavy Israeli bombardments on Wednesday once again concentrated on the two main southern cities, killing at least nine people in a preliminary toll, in addition to the 34 killed and 40 wounded reported on Monday.
The first evacuation order targeted Nabatieh, which around noon was placed under a sweeping evacuation order for its entire population, renewing an unprecedented directive first issued the previous day by the Israeli army since the resumption of the war on March 2.
A similar order followed shortly after 4 p.m. for the coastal city of Sour and its suburbs, including the Rashidieh Palestinian refugee camp. Only a small part of the city — including the Christian quarter — was not included in the evacuation zone shown on the Israeli army’s map.
Outside Sour, the towns of Shabriha, Hamadieh, Jal al-Bahr, Zokak al-Mafdi, Buss, Maashouk, Burj al-Shemali, Nabaa, Hosh, Rashidieh, and Ain Baal were also included in the evacuation orders.
Other evacuation orders were also issued to four towns in the Jezzine district: Kfar Houneh, Aramta, Mlikh, and Jarjouaa, as well as one in the Nabatieh district, Houmin Fawqa.
29 people ‘trapped’ in Nabatieh evacuated
The Civil Defense said it evacuated 29 people trapped inside damaged buildings in Doueir and Nabatieh, according to a statement.
Israeli strikes targeted areas deeper into Lebanese territory, well north of the Litani River and beyond the Israeli-declared "buffer zone" in the south.
At least one person was killed in a strike on Teffahta (Saida district), while two others were killed and one wounded in bombardments on Deir Aames (Sour district), according to our correspondent in south Lebanon.
Two additional deadly strikes in Habboush and Shoukin (Nabatieh district) killed six people in total, including three members of the same family.
Other Israeli air strikes targeted Touline, Deir Qanoun al-Nahr, Srifa, Barish and Qleileh in the Sour region, as well as Burj Qalaway (Bint Jbeil), Erkay (Saida), several homes in Debbine (Marjayoun), and areas in Shebaa (Hasbaya).
Nabatieh — hit five times since the morning — and its surroundings remain the most heavily targeted area, as Israeli ground forces advance toward the city.
The Israeli air force and artillery also bombed Zefta and Breikeh, both hit twice, as well as Kfar Roummane, Mayfadoun, Arnoun, Yohmor al-Shaqif, Nabatieh Fawqa, Sharqieh, Zibdin, Habboush, Shoukin, Qaaqaaiyet al-Jisr, Doueir, Kfar Jouz, and Zawtar Sharqieh and Zawtar Gharbieh.
New Israeli ground advance after capture of Zawtar
On the ground, close-quarters fighting broke out in the morning between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters around Zawtar Sharqieh and Zawtar Gharbieh, north of the Litani River, in an area heavily hit by air and artillery strikes over recent days, particularly on Tuesday.
A Humvee-type Israeli military vehicle was later seen near Nabatieh Fawqa, on the road toward Zawtar Sharqieh, according to rescue workers contacted by our correspondent. They said it was a remotely controlled reconnaissance vehicle with no soldiers on board. It was later targeted and destroyed after Hezbollah detected it, according to these sources.
Hezbollah responded with a series of attacks against Israeli troops advancing into Zawtar Sharqieh, using artillery, rockets and suicide drones, in an attempt to block further progress toward Yohmor al-Shaqif.
While Hezbollah said it had “forced the enemy to retreat” in one of its statements, Israeli forces reportedly continued advancing along three axes north and east of the village after taking control of Zawtar Sharqieh.
The Beaufort fortress, on a hill east of Yohmor al-Shaqif, is reportedly among the main objectives of the Israeli forces as they seek to expand their operational perimeter north of the Litani in south Lebanon.
A 20th Lebanese soldier killed Tuesday near Qaraoun dam
A Lebanese Army soldier was killed Tuesday in an Israeli drone strike targeting the area around the Qaraoun dam in southern Bekaa.
His body was recovered Wednesday after remaining inaccessible for several hours. He has been identified as Saleh Souni, from Mhaidtheh (Rashaya district), according to our regional correspondent.
He is the 20th Lebanese soldier killed in Israeli strikes since the resumption of the war on March 2.
Two rescuers from the Islamic Mission Scouts (al-Rissala, affiliated with the Amal Movement) were also killed at the same site during a “double tap strike” after arriving to assist the wounded soldier. They were identified as Kamel Zein and Ahmad Qazwini, both from Sohmor (West Bekaa).
On Monday, Israeli warplanes carried out at least 120 strikes on 62 towns according to our correspondent's count, killing 31 people in the south according to the Health Ministry, and three more in the Bekaa.
Israeli drones struck 18 locations across 12 towns, while 28 villages were subjected to heavy artillery fire, including one hit with white phosphorus shells.
