Israel plans more strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, orders evacuation

The announcement came shortly after Israel began what it stated was a fresh round of "extensive strikes" across Lebanon and suggested that Tel Aviv was gearing up for another round of conflict. 

In Short

• Israel military warns Lebanese civilians to leave weapon storage areas
• IDF reveals Hezbollah's use of civilian homes for missile launches
• Israeli military said it struck around 290 targets on Saturday

The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) warned people in Lebanon to immediately leave their homes and other buildings where Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group stores weapons, bringing Israel's 11-month conflict with the militant group closer to all-out war after a week of escalation.

The announcement came shortly after Israel began what it stated was a fresh round of "extensive strikes" across Lebanon and suggested that Tel Aviv was gearing up for another round of conflict.

In an official statement released on the official X handle, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated, "We advise civilians from Lebanese villages located in and next to buildings and areas used by Hezbollah for military purposes, such as those used to store weapons, to immediately move out of harm’s way for their own safety.”

Top Points

1. The Israeli military also released a map showing 17 villages and towns in southern Lebanon; however, it did not reveal which of them they would be targeting.
2. The evacuation order represents Israel's latest effort to weaken Hezbollah, following covert operations last week that targeted and damaged parts of the militia's communication networks. Additionally, a rare strike on Beirut on Friday destroyed a building where senior Hezbollah commanders were meeting.

3. Israel's air force conducted dozens of airstrikes across Southern Lebanon early on Monday morning, news agency Associated Press reported, while citing the Israeli military.

   The Israeli spokesperson stated that the attack targeted the areas related to the Hezbollah militant group.

4. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has ordered all members to cease using any communication devices after deadly attacks last week destroyed thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah, the IRGC's key ally in Lebanon, two senior Iranian security officials told news agency Reuters.

5. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday stated that Tel Aviv has, in recent days, hit the armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon "in ways it could not imagine".

   "If Hezbollah has not understood the message, I promise you, it will understand the message," Reuters quoted Netanyahu as saying.